Diagramming software
Diagramming software is a computer program that is used to produce graphical diagrams. Among other uses, such diagrams are often used in software and technical development and business to represent dataflows, workflows, software architecture and organizational charts.
Flowchart
The following applications allow you to create flowcharts. They are, however, not necessarily limited to creating only this type of charts.
| Name | Platform | License |
|---|---|---|
| ARIS Express | Microsoft Windows | freeware |
| Cacoo | web-based | |
| Calligra Flow (formerly Kivio) | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | GPL (open source) |
| Creately | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, web-based | Proprietary |
| Dia | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | GPL (open source) |
| Edraw Max | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary |
| Inkscape | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | GPL (open source) |
| Inspiration | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | Proprietary |
| LibreOffice Draw | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | LGPL (open source) |
| LucidChart | web-based | |
| Microsoft Visio | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary |
| OmniGraffle | Mac OS X | Proprietary |
| OpenOffice.org Draw | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Apache (open source) |
| ProcessOn | web-based | |
| SmartDraw | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary |
| Signavio | web-based | |
| Software Ideas Modeler | Microsoft Windows | freeware, Proprietary |
| StarOffice Draw | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Proprietary |
| yEd | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | freeware |
UML diagram
See List of Unified Modeling Language tools
Concept mapping/Mind mapping
Concept mapping and mind mapping are a subset of diagramming software aimed to represent collections of ideas.
Online diagramming
Online diagramming is a way to create flow charts and business diagrams without having to download and install any software. The diagram will be created completely online and is then exported as an image or pdf file.
Online Drawing tools
- Cacoo - Online Real-Time Collaborative Diagramming & Drawing. Flash-based.
- Creately - Online Diagramming & Design. Flash-based.
- ProcessOn - Free online diagramming application. Flash-based. BPMN 2.0 designer.
- SpicyNodes - Radial tree visualizer with a drag-and-drop hierarchical tree editor, which generates interactive, radial tree diagrams.
Further reading
- Bounford, Trevor (2000). Digital diagrams. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 978-0-8230-1572-6.