Document Generation Platform Comparison — Research Prompt
Paste this as a new session prompt:
/ultra-auto Research and compare all available document generation approaches for Solanasis proposals and pitch decks. We need to determine which platform produces the most professional, client-ready output.
Context
We just completed a GWS CLI document generation pipeline (generate-doc.py in solanasis-scripts/) that uses Google Slides/Docs templates with {{PLACEHOLDER}} replacement. POC scored 8.5/10 for Slides, 9.0/10 for Docs. But we have other options we haven’t fully evaluated.
Platforms to Compare
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GWS CLI + Google Slides/Docs (already built) — template copy, placeholder replace, PDF export. See: solanasis-scripts/generate-doc.py, solanasis-docs/playbooks/gws-template-design-spec.md, .ultra-plans/gws-cli-poc-assessment.md
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python-pptx (already built for pitch decks) — programmatic PPTX generation. See: solanasis-scripts/generate-pitch-deck.py, solanasis-docs/presentations/chamber-operational-resilience/build_deck.py
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python-docx / htmldocx (partially built in ERPNext) — HTML-to-DOCX conversion with Jinja2 templates. See: solanasis_core/solanasis_core/solanasis_core/doctype/solanasis_document_template/solanasis_document_template.py
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Canva API (Connect API) — Canva’s developer platform for programmatic design generation. Research what’s available: template autofill, brand kit API, design export, batch generation. Check https://www.canva.dev/docs/connect/ for current API capabilities. Key questions: Can we create designs from templates programmatically? Can we replace text/images via API? Can we export to PDF? What auth model does it use? Is there a Python SDK? What are the rate limits and pricing?
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Any other approaches worth considering (e.g., Figma API, Adobe Express API, LaTeX templates, Typst, markdown-to-PDF pipelines like Pandoc + custom CSS)
Deliverables
For each platform, produce a side-by-side comparison covering:
- Visual quality ceiling — how professional can the output realistically look?
- Template editability — can a non-developer (Dmitri or a contractor) edit templates visually?
- Automation friendliness — how easy is it for an AI agent to drive the full pipeline?
- Output formats — PDF, PPTX, DOCX, PNG, etc.
- Offline capability — does it work without internet?
- Cost — free tier limits, API pricing
- Ecosystem fit — how well does it integrate with our existing Solanasis stack (Infisical secrets, GWS CLI, solanasis-scripts conventions)?
- Current readiness — what’s already built vs. what needs building?
Specific Comparisons to Run
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Proposal generation: Create the same Meridian Healthcare Partners proposal (from the GWS CLI POC) using each platform that’s ready. Compare the PDFs visually.
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Pitch deck generation: Compare the existing python-pptx Solanasis pitch deck against what GWS CLI Slides and Canva API could produce.
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Brand consistency: Which platform best enforces Solanasis brand (Navy #020532, Copper C47A3D, Parchment FEF9F1, Playfair Display, Montserrat, Libre Baskerville)?
Canva-Specific Research
Before the comparison, research and document:
- Current Canva Connect API capabilities (as of April 2026)
- Authentication setup required (OAuth2 app registration, scopes)
- Whether we need a Canva Pro/Teams subscription for API access
- Python SDK or REST API patterns
- How to set up a Canva API integration that Claude Code can use (MCP server? Direct API calls? CLI wrapper?)
- Any existing Canva MCP servers or CLI tools in the ecosystem
Output
- Comparison matrix (markdown table) with scores per dimension per platform
- Recommendation: which platform for proposals, which for pitch decks, whether to use different platforms for different deliverable types
- If Canva API looks promising: a setup guide for getting API credentials into Infisical and a minimal POC script
- Recommended skills/agents to build based on the winning approach(es)