What is the fastest way to create and edit UML diagrams?

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Considered

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Recs.

Dec 13, 2023

Last
Updated

PlantUml vs Draw.io vs SequenceDiagram.org

vs Visual Paradigm vs Umbrello vs nomnoml vs Modelio vs UML Designer vs UMLet vs Gravizo vs gleek vs AutoDiagrammer vs Creately vs WebSequenceDiagrams vs WhiteStarUML

Specs

Platforms

Windows, Linux, Mac, Web, Chrome

Technology

Java

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Web, desktop

Technology

License

Apache v2 (Github repo too)

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows Web Linux MacOSX

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows, Linux, Mac

Technology

C++, PHP

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows Linux Mac

Technology

Java

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows Linux

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows Linux Mac Web

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Web, Windows, Linux, Docker

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Web

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Linux, Web

Technology

License

Exports

JPEG, PNG, PDF, SVG

Real-time collaboration

Yes

Imports

JPEG, PNG, SVG, VISIO

Platforms

Web

Technology

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Platforms

Technology

Delphi

License

Exports

Real-time collaboration

Imports

Pros + Cons

Pro
Many, many integrations

For example from Emacs, Sublime Text and so on. You can learn about integrations here.

Comment

Pro
Easy create diagrams from text

There is even a Visual Basic Macro to draw UML diagrams in Word.

Comment

Con
The "plantUML-language" is a bit strange and hard to grasp for new people

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Free/libre/open source (GPL)

Source code can be browsed here.

Comment

Pro
sphinx-contrib extension for embedding into docs

sphinx-contrib extension on PyPi Allows you to keep your UML definitions under VCS and include them inside generated documentation with ease.

Comment

Con
Slow development due to it being mostly a one-man project

There’s been no recent contribution to the source forge project but from the administrator arnaud_roques. Future contribution might be difficult due to lacking code documentation.

Comment

Con
It's hosted at SourceForge

SourceForge is now a distributer of malware (bundled with some software you download from them).

Comment

Con
You have to draw and align everything by hand

There is no auto alignment, predefined styles, etc., so you will have to manually align, distribute and connect elements.

Comment

Pro
Works instantly in a web browser

No registration required, even for downloading the resulting diagram as XML.

Comment

Pro
Good list of different output formats

Draw.io supports export for PNG, GIF, JPEG, PDF, SVG, HTML, and XML.

Comment

Pro
Free/libre/open source (GPL 3.0)

Browse source code here.

Comment

Pro
Export to PNG, JPG and SVG

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Actively developed

Visual Paradigm is actively developed and releases regular updates.

Comment

Pro
Everything runs client side

You can use the website even for sensitive content as nothing is sent to the server.

Comment

Pro
Customizable

You can override the global styling for the diagram and you can also define custom types for the entities. It is really powerful.

Comment

Pro
Free and open source

You can extend it, if you find something missing!

Comment

Pro
Automatically saves

The browser-based tool automatically saves your changes to your localStorage, which is a nice and handy feature.

Comment

Pro
Text format

The tool generates diagrams from a simple text format, which is easy to edit and you can even version control it.

Comment

Pro
Fully fledged

It knows many types of UML entities and relationships so you will barely miss anything.

Comment

Con
Can't connect entities on different levels

The tool can't connect entities on different levels, for example a class and a class inside an other package.

Comment

Pro
Extensions

Extensions for code generation: Java, C++, C#, SQL etc.

Comment

Pro
Open source

Modelio has both GPL and commercial licenses, the Java source code is available on GitHub.

Comment

Con
Almost discontinued

Some users push fixes, but there isn't any real development flow.

Comment

Pro
Markdown syntax

Can be used on GitHub using Markdown image tag.

Comment

Pro
URL

You can use an URL which will be rendered by Gravizo and include it in your website or blog.

Comment

Con
Online only

No applications for local use in the free version.

Comment

Pro
Real time collaboration

You can invite anyone by their email addresses to collaborate with your diagram. You can see others' changes to the diagram real time with the Creately Online and Desktop app.

Comment

Pro
Professionally designed templates

The templates are well thought-out and actually helps you get started. Not like many other sites where the details are already filled in.

Comment

Easy to use drag and drop interface and a contextual toolbar that shows you all the important actions when you select an object. The automatic creation and connecting of next object alone saves tons of time.

Comment