Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DIagrams Through Ascii Art VS Monodraw

Compare DIagrams Through Ascii Art VS Monodraw and see what are their differences

DIagrams Through Ascii Art logo DIagrams Through Ascii Art

Java command-line tool to convert ASCII diagrams to bitmaps.

Monodraw logo Monodraw

Monodraw allows you to easily create text-based art (like diagrams, layouts, flow charts) and...
  • DIagrams Through Ascii Art Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-20
  • Monodraw Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24

DIagrams Through Ascii Art features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Ditaa allows users to create diagrams directly from ASCII art, making it accessible for those familiar with text editors without needing specialized graphic software.
  • Integration with Text
    Since it's based on ASCII art, diagrams can be seamlessly integrated into plain text documentation or code comments, making it ideal for tech environments.
  • Version Control Friendly
    ASCII art diagrams can be easily version controlled using standard tools like Git, allowing for clear tracking of changes over time.
  • Lightweight
    Ditaa is a lightweight tool with no heavy dependencies, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows without significant overhead.
  • Cross-Platform
    As a Java-based application, Ditaa runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Possible disadvantages of DIagrams Through Ascii Art

  • Limited Complexity
    The complexity of diagrams is limited by the constraints of ASCII art, making it unsuitable for highly detailed or advanced graphical representations.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    While simple diagrams are easy to create, developing more complex diagrams can have a learning curve, especially for those not used to ASCII art.
  • Aesthetic Limitations
    The visual appeal of ASCII art is limited when compared to professional diagramming tools, which might not meet the needs of users prioritizing aesthetics.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Ditaa lacks some advanced features and flexibility that dedicated graphic design tools offer, such as color use and fine-tuned graphical control.
  • Dependent on Java
    As Ditaa is Java-based, users must have the Java runtime environment installed, which might be a constraint in some environments.

Monodraw features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Monodraw offers an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that allows users to create ASCII art and diagrams without a steep learning curve.
  • Rich Toolset
    The software comes with a wide array of tools and features specifically designed for ASCII art and text-based diagram creation, providing flexibility and precision.
  • Export Options
    Monodraw supports various export formats, making it easy to integrate ASCII diagrams into other applications or share them without losing quality.
  • Customizable Grid
    The customizable grid feature helps in aligning and organizing ASCII elements precisely, allowing for detailed and accurate designs.
  • Mac-Exclusive Optimization
    Being a macOS-exclusive application, Monodraw is optimized for performance and integration within the Apple ecosystem.

Possible disadvantages of Monodraw

  • Platform Limitation
    Monodraw is only available for macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems like Windows or Linux.
  • Pricing
    The software is not free, and some users might find the cost a bit high compared to other free tools available for creating ASCII art.
  • Niche Application
    Monodraw is a specialized tool focused primarily on ASCII art, which may not appeal to users who need broader graphic design features.
  • Learning Curve for Precision Work
    While basic usage is straightforward, creating highly detailed and complex ASCII diagrams might require some time for users to master.
  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Monodraw does not offer extensive real-time collaboration features, which might be a downside for teams looking to work on projects simultaneously.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DIagrams Through Ascii Art and Monodraw)
Diagrams
30 30%
70% 70
Flowcharts
29 29%
71% 71
Flow Charts And Diagrams
50 50%
50% 50
UML Diagrams
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Monodraw should be more popular than DIagrams Through Ascii Art. It has been mentiond 26 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DIagrams Through Ascii Art mentions (9)

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Monodraw mentions (26)

  • Show HN: Cascii – A portable ASCII diagram builder written in vanilla JavaScript
    Looks super cool, congrats! Monodraw[1] is a similar product delivered as a standalone macOS app. It’s a classic pay once-type license and very polished software. Cannot recommend enough! I’ve always wanted something as good on Linux though, will definitely give this a go! [1] https://monodraw.helftone.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Ask HN: What do you use to create diagrams?
    99% sure this is not what you're asking for, but I think it's worth mentioning monodraw: https://monodraw.helftone.com It's really useful for embedding diagrams in your code. Not so much for uses outside of code though. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Mermaid ASCII Diagrams
    I have been using Monodraw for a long time: https://monodraw.helftone.com/ It's a macOS app and I've found it great. However if given an ASCII diagram, you cannot edit it with the same ease as creating a new one (e.g. Reflowing text or resizing boxes). I really like the idea of having the mermaid source and the ASCII diagram together, so you could use the source to change the diagram if needed. But I feel that... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Architecture diagrams enable better conversations
    And then you can perform further edits using something like https://asciiflow.com/ (web, free) or https://ivanceras.github.io/bob-editor/ (web, free) or https://monodraw.helftone.com/ (Mac only, proprietary) as mentioned in other comments from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37040883. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Typograms: A definition and renderer for ASCII diagrams
    Typograms could be great with the monodraw app on macOS. I'm a very happy customer of monodraw-- not affiliated in any way. https://monodraw.helftone.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing DIagrams Through Ascii Art and Monodraw, you can also consider the following products

asciiflow - Infinite ASCII diagrams, save to Google Drive, resize, freeform draw, and export straight to text/html.

draw.io - Online diagramming application

Code2Flow - An easy solution to create product flows.

Graphviz - Graphviz is open source graph visualization software. It has several main graph layout programs.

Playscii - Full-featured ASCII art and graphic editor and game creation tool

Flowchart.js - Draw SVG flow charts from simple text representations of the diagrams.