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Compare the syntax and renders of various languages that produce diagrams from text.
Basic
Wiiu
Latex
Class
State
Containers
Shapes
Trees
Chess
Icons
Tables
Sequence
Text
Code
Basic: An example of the most basic diagramming functions: create a box, give it a label, connect it to another box, label that connection. It also demonstrates shorthand ID substitution, if it exists in the syntax.
1hello
2w: world
3
4hello -> w: there
1@startuml
2
3[hello]
4[world] as w
5
6[hello] -> w: there
7
8@enduml
Features
Open source
License
MPL 2.0
GPL 3.0
Downloadable CLI
Server-side execution
Container edges
Released in
2022
2009
Maintenance
Compiler language
Go
Java
Editor support
Creator-made extensions for VSCode and Vim
Community-made extensions for VSCode, Vim, Atom
Themes
Friendly error messages
Images & Icons
Any URL
Any URL
Sequence diagrams
SQL tables
Markdown
Code snippets
LaTeX
Accessibility
Autoformat
Native Github rendering
Responsive dark mode
PDF exports
With additional installs
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Open source: The language is free and open-source.Open source | ||
| License: The license that governs terms of usage.License | MPL 2.0 | GPL 3.0 |
| Downloadable CLI: Is a runnable download available (if not, it requires building from source).Downloadable CLI | ||
| Server-side execution: Can the language render diagrams without a browser.Server-side execution | ||
| Container edges: Edges going from or to containers is very popular in software architecture diagrams.Container edges | ||
| Released in: First year of public releaseReleased in | 2022 | 2009 |
| Maintenance: Is the language actively maintainedMaintenance | ||
| Compiler language: The language it is implemented inCompiler language | Go | Java |
| Editor support: The state of editor support for the languageEditor support | Creator-made extensions for VSCode and Vim | Community-made extensions for VSCode, Vim, Atom |
| Themes: Configurable themes for diagramsThemes | ||
| Friendly error messages: Not just "syntax error"Friendly error messages | ||
| Images & Icons: What are the available options for including images and iconsImages & Icons | Any URL | Any URL |
| Sequence diagrams: The best part of UMLSequence diagrams | ||
| SQL tables: Support for Entity-Relational-Diagrams (ERD)SQL tables | ||
| Markdown: Use Markdown for text objects in the diagramMarkdown | ||
| Code snippets: Render syntax-highlighted code snippetsCode snippets | ||
| LaTeX: Render math equations suitable for academic usageLaTeX | ||
| Accessibility: Support for accessibility options like description tags for screen readersAccessibility | ||
| Autoformat: Language tooling to autoformat a fileAutoformat | ||
| Native Github rendering: Does it render natively on GithubNative Github rendering | ||
| Responsive dark mode: Can the diagram render with both light and dark mode, switching depending on user preferenceResponsive dark mode | ||
| PDF exports: Can the CLI export PDF outputPDF exports | With additional installs | |
Frequently asked questions
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