You’re probably aware of what a UML Diagram is and how it works, but you may not have considered that some software can help you create them. You may also think that this is something you don’t need as a developer, but as long as there are some simple diagrams to put on your documentation, there are some options available to make creating those diagrams easy for people who aren’t as experienced.In this article, we will take a look at some great piece of software that can help with creating and editing UML Diagrams and even exporting them into popular image formats.
Sometimes it’s difficult to choose between the different software available for UML diagrams. I’ve made the process easier for you by finding the best options. If you’re serious about using UML to document your systems, I can help you find the right software.
Lucidchart
Many developer’s go-to diagramming tool, Lucidchart provides a suite of simple tools. Lucidchart works in real time across many platforms thanks to its code being HTML 5-based. Lucidchart integrates with Confluence, and also with MS Team, Slack and G Suite. Lucidchart handles anything from complex system diagrams to mind maps. Lucidchart has fans among less-technical development team members because of its easy drag-and-drop user interface. Check out our Draw.io vs. Lucidchart article to get a more in-depth look at the app’s functionality.
Lucidchart input type:
- Drag-and-drop
UML diagram types where lucidchart shines:
- Class diagrams
- Sequence diagrams
- Activity diagrams
Diagrams.net
Diagrams.net (formerly draw.io) offers a simple drag-and-drop interface for flowcharts and graphs, but also works for UML as well. Diagrams.net works well for a wide variety of tasks, but may not have enough specialized functions for some users. If you seek a drag-and-drop UML solution, draw.io costs a bit less than Lucidchart and offers the same ease-of-use for general users.
Input type:
- Drag-and-drop
UML diagram types that diagrams.net specializes in:
- Case diagrams
- Sequence diagrams
- Activity diagrams
Gliffy
Gliffy provides themes and templates to draw many UML diagrams. Gliffy employs a drag-and-drop interface. Gliffy also works well to create other types of charts and diagrams. Gliffy offers a space to create just about anything you would write on a whiteboard, but in virtual space. This might not be ideal for users looking for a hand-core UML solution. Gliffy works well for teams that have members who are less fluent in UML and diagramming. Read more about the tool in the detailed comparison of Lucidchart and Gliffy.
Input type:
- Drag-and-drop
UML diagram types that Gliffy does well:
- Packet diagrams
- Composite structure diagrams
- component diagrams
Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is a flowchart software that helps you design customized and streamlined flowcharts. It also allows you to save and share your flowchart diagrams.
Features:
- Helps you resize your flowcharts in a fraction of the time.
- You can build a flowchart that can be resized and reformatted for posters, infographics, emailers, etc.
- You can add animated stickers from GIPHY or apply a text animation for short-form graphic videos.
- Allows you to instantly download or print your flowchart designs for home or office use.
Moqups
Features:
You can collaborate easily with other people.
Export diagram to PDF or PNG.
Easy to share your project link with stakeholders.
Includes numerous shapes and drawing arrows.
You can resize, rotate, and move shapes.
Offers readymade customizable templates.
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ConceptDraw
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM offers a complete range of business graphic documentation solutions. These UML solutions offer business-specific add-ons which offer an extensive variety of workflow requirements.
Features:
- ConceptDraw DIAGRAM v12 offers powerful and comprehensive drawing tools.
- Helps you to empower your communication processes and improve your presentation techniques.
- The tool is an ideal suite for building plan software.
- You can use very important business metrics and track with live object technology.
Download link: https://www.conceptdraw.com/products/drawing-tool
IBM Rational Rhapsody: graphical developments environment for full process integration
IBM Rational Rhapsody is a graphical, integrated development environment (IDE) for software and product development. The UML program supports object-based software development for web-based applications as well as embedded systems and real-time systems based on C++ and Java EE. UML/SysML modeling enables you to create source code quickly in the IDE for the specified languages, C and C#, and Ada.
Rhapsody was passed on many times after its development in 1998. After IBM acquired the Swedish company, Telelogic AB in 2008, the American company expanded its rational product range with Telelogic’s Rhapsody. The Swedes only purchased the IDE in 2006 by acquiring the original developer company, I-Logix. As one of the first graphical development environments, Rational Rhapsody, spread in a short time.
International brands use the software for large projects that require detailed version differentiation for numerous team members in different countries. Jaguar Land Rover, for example, uses Rational Rhapsody to adapt the software to its infotainment offer to different markets.
For these and other tasks, Rhapsody offers a development environment in which you can draw diagrams, generate, and check code, and compare or analyze different versions. The UML tool supports the following:
- UML
- SysML
- AUTOSAR
- DoDAF
- MODAF
- UPDM
- DSL
These UML-based modeling languages are suitable for tool-based software development, which saves programmers a lot of work. In addition, you can rely on compatibility since UML and Rhapsody were developed in the same house – namely at Rational Software.
In Rhapsody, you either draw the models freely, import existing code for visualizations as diagrams, or download requirements from a requirements management tool such as Doors, a relative of the Rational family. The following YouTube video shows you how to create a SysML model for a real-time system from a list of requirements in Doors. In this case, IBM will present its approach to the INCOSE Vendor Challenge. The aim of the project was to create a parking system for a hotel chain.
The developers built the UML tool based on the open source software Eclipse. The current version still supports the Eclipse IDE platform as an integration or a plugin. It contains further integrated development environments as workflow integration:
- Wind River Workbench
- Green Hills MULTI
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
As an IDE, Rhapsody works in real time and creates source code frames from diagrams. The program is available in four different license forms. In addition, IBM offers different versions of the UML tool specifically for the different requirements of different departments. The modules are compatible with the IDE. You can choose between the Architect for Systems Engineers, the Designer for Systems Engineers, the Architect for Software, or the Developer. The programs differ mainly in functionality and price.
The Developer is the full version, which combines all features and integrates your created source code into the embedded development environment. It also optimizes the path from the first draft to the prototype and to the finished implementation. For example, you can use round-trip engineering and reverse engineering for this purpose. If you want to synchronize source code and design or document the process, this is also possible. Among the slim-lined versions, Architect for Software is the most powerful tool for working with UML, because it is the only one that offers these developer features.
Conclusion
If you are looking for methods or software to draw UML diagrams, this article is the perfect place to get started. The whole point of software UML diagrams is to make sure your code can be read by other developers or yourself in the future. Avoiding problems caused by poorly written code that’s hard to troubleshoot.