best tool to create architecture diagrams for software

Question

i have to create a diagram at an architecture level. basically listed a gui application and a number of services and how they interact. what is the best tool for creating these views. i have ms visio 2007 but i can't find a good template. anything better?

Answer 1

enterprise architect

Answer 2

Are you looking for something free? ConceptDraw office is very good. It's not free, but there is a free trial which is fully functional.

Answer 3

This is going to sound like a joke but it's not: colored pens and graph paper. Add a scanner for saving them later. People use fancy drawing tools and thereby give their architecture diagrams a lot of apparent precision that they don't really deserve.

If you insist on a computer tool, look at one of the UML tools; there are a number of free ones. Then at least you'll be using standard notations.

If you use Macs, I'm fond of OmniGraffle.

Answer 4

+1 Enterprise Architect

Otherwise, I like paper, and a scanner: easy to draw (harder to edit, however).

Answer 5

Rational Rose is far from free, but it's very nice.

Answer 6

Whiteboard + iPhone camera for developing, Enterprise Architect (http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/) for formalizing

Answer 7

I'm going to go ONE UP On the colored pencils / marker and say regular #2 pencil!

Formalizing gets me running toward PoseideonUML.

Answer 8

Given the very nature of diagrams that are not directly coupled to your software project, they become obsolete almost before the ink/toner dries -- Also, the more effort that is placed on the drawing the less likely we are to want to fiddle with it which really is counter intuitive to what the drawings are designed for in the first place --

Having said all that to say -- my recommendation is to keep it simple. Simple pictures convey ideas -- complicated pictures invite interpretation; (of course, unless you are trying to pass a UML exam, lol) ...

I really like the idea of the white board and camera -- I like seeing my ideas on the big screen. my next choice would be pen / paper and scanner -- although Visio does run a close 2nd -- keep in mind that grabbing a number of objects in visio and pressing Ctrl-G (I think) will group them, making a nice shape you can duplicate and use ...

If it really MUST be electronic and you plan on round-tripping with the code, I like Sparx Systems, Enterprise Architect -- it's not free but it's a very nice tool. A free trial can be had here: http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/products/ea/trial.html and a UML tutorial can be had here: http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/resources/uml2_tutorial/

hope it helps.

(Ha, see that someone pressed SUBMIT before I did --- but, I'm leaving my entry) lol ...

Answer 9

• I prefer to use A3 paper album + markers (album per project)
• Whiteboard is also nice, but you need a camera to capture results
• Best tool for drawing out and editing complex workflows or brain storming - MindJet MindManager (opensource version is FreeMind)
• And sometimes Microsoft Visio to turn sketches into something presentable.

Answer 10

• My favorite is Umlet which you can use to draw any type of UML diagram. It's very good at not getting in the way.
• My Second favorite is ArgoUML
• I talk about these and other favorite tools in an article called Top OSS for Coders.

Answer 11

I'm a fan of the Whiteboard first followed by Enterprise Architect, www.sparxsystems.com. I use UML whenever possible.

Answer 12

Try yEd:

http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html