Open Source Diagramming Tools
From Shrubbery
- My experiences with different open source diagramming tools.
For some time now I've been looking for an open source alternative to Visio. Despite the fact that it only ran on Windoze, I really liked Visio. In my view, Visio was superior to all the expensive UML modeling tools because it allowed me to make diagrams with simple boxes and arrows that conveyed the overall architecture of a system rather than ultra-detailed UML that IMO is not much better than staring at the code. Then Micro$oft bought it. Now it's all bloated and goofy. Besides, I need something to make diagrams with on my Linux workstation.
[edit] Dia
Main site: http://live.gnome.org/Dia
Documentation: http://dia-installer.de/doc/en/index.html
Dia seems to be the most popular tool out of the ones that I've used.
Pros:
- Popular, seems to be actively developed and fairly stable.
- Runs on Windoze and Linux.
Cons:
- Doesn't really run on OSX (well port didn't work for me on OSX Leopard).
- I haven't figured out how to make 'templates' like I could in Visio.
[edit] Kivio
KDE-based Visio clone.
Pros:
- Simple, clean KDE interface.
- Basic shapes are there.
Cons:
- No 'move back' command! Only 'move to back'. No 'move forward' command either. That really sucks.
[edit] Inkscape
Not really a Visio clone, but it can be used to make really nice looking box and arrow diagrams.
Pros:
- Can make really cool looking diagrams with transparency and stuff.
Cons:
- An illustration tool, not a real diagramming tool with connectors, etc.
