diff --git a/file.go b/file.go
index ce7423ae..0cdc5497 100644
--- a/file.go
+++ b/file.go
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ func NewFileType(name, path, content, state string) *FileType {
 	}
 }
 
+func (obj *FileType) GetType() string {
+	return "File"
+}
+
 // File watcher for files and directories
 // Modify with caution, probably important to write some test cases first!
 // obj.Path: file or directory
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 7046f690..88ad2cee 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ func run(c *cli.Context) {
 				log.Fatal("Graph failure")
 			}
 			log.Printf("Graph: %v\n", G) // show graph
+			err := G.ExecGraphviz(c.String("graphviz-filter"), c.String("graphviz"))
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Printf("Graphviz: %v", err)
+			} else {
+				log.Printf("Graphviz: Successfully generated graph!")
+			}
 			G.SetVertex()
 			if first {
 				// G.Start(...) needs to be synchronous or wait,
@@ -174,6 +180,16 @@ func main() {
 					Value: "",
 					Usage: "code definition to run",
 				},
+				cli.StringFlag{
+					Name:  "graphviz, g",
+					Value: "",
+					Usage: "output file for graphviz data",
+				},
+				cli.StringFlag{
+					Name:  "graphviz-filter, gf",
+					Value: "dot", // directed graph default
+					Usage: "graphviz filter to use",
+				},
 				// useful for testing multiple instances on same machine
 				cli.StringFlag{
 					Name:  "hostname",
diff --git a/pgraph.go b/pgraph.go
index 7862671f..31c5217e 100644
--- a/pgraph.go
+++ b/pgraph.go
@@ -19,10 +19,15 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	//"container/list" // doubly linked list
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 )
 
 //go:generate stringer -type=graphState -output=graphstate_stringer.go
@@ -81,6 +86,11 @@ func NewEdge(name string) *Edge {
 	}
 }
 
+// returns the name of the graph
+func (g *Graph) GetName() string {
+	return g.Name
+}
+
 // set name of the graph
 func (g *Graph) SetName(name string) {
 	g.Name = name
@@ -208,6 +218,88 @@ func (g *Graph) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Vertices(%d), Edges(%d)", g.NumVertices(), g.NumEdges())
 }
 
+// output the graph in graphviz format
+// https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_%28graph_description_language%29
+func (g *Graph) Graphviz() (out string) {
+	//digraph g {
+	//	label="hello world";
+	//	node [shape=box];
+	//	A [label="A"];
+	//	B [label="B"];
+	//	C [label="C"];
+	//	D [label="D"];
+	//	E [label="E"];
+	//	A -> B [label=f];
+	//	B -> C [label=g];
+	//	D -> E [label=h];
+	//}
+	out += fmt.Sprintf("digraph %v {\n", g.GetName())
+	out += fmt.Sprintf("\tlabel=\"%v\";\n", g.GetName())
+	//out += "\tnode [shape=box];\n"
+	str := ""
+	for i, _ := range g.Adjacency { // reverse paths
+		out += fmt.Sprintf("\t%v [label=\"%v[%v]\"];\n", i.GetName(), i.GetType(), i.GetName())
+		for j, _ := range g.Adjacency[i] {
+			k := g.Adjacency[i][j]
+			// use str for clearer output ordering
+			str += fmt.Sprintf("\t%v -> %v [label=%v];\n", i.GetName(), j.GetName(), k.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	out += str
+	out += "}\n"
+	return
+}
+
+// write out the graphviz data and run the correct graphviz filter command
+func (g *Graph) ExecGraphviz(program, filename string) error {
+
+	switch program {
+	case "dot", "neato", "twopi", "circo", "fdp":
+	default:
+		return errors.New("Invalid graphviz program selected!")
+	}
+
+	if filename == "" {
+		return errors.New("No filename given!")
+	}
+
+	// run as a normal user if possible when run with sudo
+	uid, err1 := strconv.Atoi(os.Getenv("SUDO_UID"))
+	gid, err2 := strconv.Atoi(os.Getenv("SUDO_GID"))
+
+	err := ioutil.WriteFile(filename, []byte(g.Graphviz()), 0644)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.New("Error writing to filename!")
+	}
+
+	if err1 == nil && err2 == nil {
+		if err := os.Chown(filename, uid, gid); err != nil {
+			return errors.New("Error changing file owner!")
+		}
+	}
+
+	path, err := exec.LookPath(program)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.New("Graphviz is missing!")
+	}
+
+	out := fmt.Sprintf("%v.png", filename)
+	cmd := exec.Command(path, "-Tpng", fmt.Sprintf("-o%v", out), filename)
+
+	if err1 == nil && err2 == nil {
+		cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{}
+		cmd.SysProcAttr.Credential = &syscall.Credential{
+			Uid: uint32(uid),
+			Gid: uint32(gid),
+		}
+	}
+	_, err = cmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.New("Error writing to image!")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // google/golang hackers apparently do not think contains should be a built-in!
 func Contains(s []*Vertex, element *Vertex) bool {
 	for _, v := range s {
diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index 76319b5b..1576143a 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ func NewServiceType(name, state, startup string) *ServiceType {
 	}
 }
 
+func (obj *ServiceType) GetType() string {
+	return "Service"
+}
+
 // Service watcher
 func (obj *ServiceType) Watch() {
 	// obj.Name: service name
diff --git a/types.go b/types.go
index addac288..5cf33529 100644
--- a/types.go
+++ b/types.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 type Type interface {
 	Init()
 	GetName() string // can't be named "Name()" because of struct field
+	GetType() string
 	Watch()
 	StateOK() bool // TODO: can we rename this to something better?
 	Apply() bool
@@ -71,6 +72,10 @@ func (obj *BaseType) GetName() string {
 	return obj.Name
 }
 
+func (obj *BaseType) GetType() string {
+	return "Base"
+}
+
 func (obj *BaseType) GetVertex() *Vertex {
 	return obj.vertex
 }
@@ -198,6 +203,10 @@ func (obj *BaseType) Process(typ Type) {
 
 }
 
+func (obj *NoopType) GetType() string {
+	return "Noop"
+}
+
 func (obj *NoopType) Watch() {
 	//vertex := obj.vertex // stored with SetVertex
 	var send = false // send event?