Does anyone use mindmapping tools?

Question

I wonder if anyone (or any team) uses mindmapping tools (mindstorms/brainstorms before projects). I'm going to start a new project and I think if it would be useful. If yes, which tool should I use.

Answer 1

I've looked at them, but only desktop applications. I like the ideas, but I haven't seen an implementation that I really like yet, unfortunately. But it's been several months since a looked, so the various projects might have matured. I believe the one that I liked the best was called VUE.

To answer your question, I think they are useful for organizing thoughts and keeping them connected to each other, especially when brainstorming ideas. I usually sketch them out, though.

Answer 2

It's easy to spend too much time or money on this kind of thing, sort of like spending all your time reading about "getting things done" instead of getting them done.

This is a free and usable mindmapping (Java) tool:

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Answer 3

I have tried using Cayra, which is free and pretty slick.

I think mind mapping works well for "marketing" and feature-set types of brainstorming, when you are really trying to flesh out what your system is going to do and how you want to bring it to market. But in my experience the technique is less useful for doing formal requirements definition or any kind of technical design, since there is no hierarchy or formality, and the tool seems to just get in the way. YMMV.

Answer 4

They are useful for initial brainstorming. Here's an excellent review comparing two pretty good offerings Mindomo vs Mindmeister

Answer 5

I use it every now and then when I have a lot of stuff to get out of my brain at once. Lifehacker is a good source for mind mapping tips and software. They have a Beginner's Guide to Mind Mapping, and a good list of software they recommend for it.

Personally I've used Freemind and MindMeister. I think I prefer the latter just because it's available everywhere, so I can access it whenever I have a thought I want to add on.

Answer 6

I've tried using them, but it feels like learning how to use the tool takes more time than just scribbling on paper or on a whiteboard.

Sod the trees, there is software to write.

Answer 7

I never really understood the purpose of mind maps. I find it more compact and faster to read/edit a simple indented list:

• Item1
  • SubItem1
  • SubItem2
• Item2
  • SubItem1
  • SubItem2
  • SubItem3

Answer 8

I just downloaded Cayra and found it totally unusable. +1 for Freemind.

Answer 9

MindMeister is very nice, not only because it is an online tool, but also because it have good collaboration features. More than one user can collaborate on the same document over the internet. (Not unlike Google Docs' spreadsheet)

Answer 10

I used mind maps extensively as a student at university and found it a very effective technique for learning course material that was heavy on text and light on equations. I learnt the techniques using Tony Buzan's The Mind Map Book.

For software development I have used Freemind for both GUI design as well as mapping out a large and unfamiliar legacy C++ code base. In both cases it proved to be a worthwhile exercise helping to clarify my thinking as well as providing a nice one page document I could discuss with other team members.

Answer 11

Here is a good article on selecting a mind mapping tool http://knowledge-mapping.blogspot.com/2006/11/selecting-mind-mapping-software.html

No real winner but a couple of tools come out on top

Answer 12

If you're using a Mac OS X try Mindnode (free, not pro). It's about as simple as can be but has been astoundingly useful to me.

Answer 13

I use MindManager (www.mindjet.com) every day.

It's very expensive ($350) but, for my purposes, in my opinion, worth it.

I've tried the free tools, but for me they are too awkward.

Adam Leffert

Answer 14

For the moment I use FreeMind as a PortableApp.

Now I have -most of the time- my maps with me on 1 location.

I use the technique itself for my projects, 'personal knowledge base', ...

Answer 15

For a unique mind mapping type tool, try http://www.thebrain.com/

It's quite unique, as it offers a unique approach to linking.

Answer 16

I've been using mind maps for several years now and have learned a few things about them on the computer that can help choose great software. A few people said that mind maps were only useful for marketing type tasks. Others said a basic outline serves them better. I've found that mind maps don't work for everything. I use them and then sometimes I use something else. I do the same thing at home sometimes I use a screwdriver, sometimes a saw, sometimes a hammer. It really depends.

Mind maps do have their advantages and organizing material in a top down manner isn't one of them. They are great and taking notes on subjects that require memorization or linking ideas that don't fit together in a list.

Software - What to Look For? Mind map software should be very intuitive. (OK all software should be intuitive, but even more so in this case). I ask myself the following questions when evaluating mind map software. How do you add a new lower level node? How do you add a new peer node? How do you edit a node? How do you move nodes around the map? How do you add numbering? How do you add built-in icons? How do you add personal icons? How do you add links? What kinds of things can you link?

The most important of these questions is how do you add a new node and how do you edit a node. There should be two ways to add nodes. First you should be able to add a node by hitting Enter. This should give you a new peer node or a new child node if you're on the base node. I've seen all kinds of variations that simply make it harder to use. The second way to add a node should be with Insert which will always give you a new child node.

The next important consideration is how to edit a node. You should be able to edit a node by starting to type. That action should start overwriting whatever was in the node. Making it any harder than this is a time waster. If you hit escape it should restore what was there before. If you want to edit the node without completely changing it then a keystroke is appropriate, F2 is nice since that is the common spreadsheet edit mode hot key.

I have found two mind mapping tools that I highly recommend. The first is MindJet. However, as mentioned elsewhere this is $300+. The second is Mindomo. Which I have to tell you behaves just like MindJet. It is a wonderful piece of online software.

Answer 17

Xmind is perfect and free. It's perfect for brainstorming meetings, and initial design phase. http://www.xmind.net