Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PlantUML VS ThinkComposer

Compare PlantUML VS ThinkComposer and see what are their differences

PlantUML logo PlantUML

PlantUML is an open-source tool that uses simple textual descriptions to draw UML diagrams.

ThinkComposer logo ThinkComposer

Software for create adaptable and multilevel diagrams, concept maps, mind maps and models
  • PlantUML Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22
  • ThinkComposer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

PlantUML features and specs

  • Simple Syntax
    PlantUML uses a plain text language that is easy to learn, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users.
  • Quick Diagram Creation
    Due to its straightforward text-based syntax, diagrams can be created and modified quickly without the need for a graphical interface.
  • Version Control Friendly
    Diagrams are stored as text files, making them easy to manage with version control systems like Git.
  • Integrations
    PlantUML integrates well with many other tools and platforms including IDEs (e.g., IntelliJ, VSCode), documentation generators (e.g., Doxygen, Sphinx), and project management tools.
  • Wide Range of Diagrams
    PlantUML supports a variety of UML and non-UML diagrams, including sequence diagrams, use case diagrams, class diagrams, and more.
  • Open Source
    PlantUML is an open-source tool, which makes it free to use and allows for community contributions and extensions.

Possible disadvantages of PlantUML

  • Learning Curve
    While the syntax is simple, users unfamiliar with text-based diagramming may need time to become proficient.
  • No GUI
    PlantUML lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), which might be a disadvantage for users who prefer drag-and-drop diagram creation.
  • Complex Diagrams
    For very complex diagrams, the text-based syntax can become cumbersome and hard to manage.
  • Rendering Limitations
    The style and formatting options are less flexible compared to some dedicated graphical diagramming tools.
  • Performance
    For large diagrams, the text-to-diagram rendering process can be slow.
  • Security Concerns
    Using PlantUML with remote server options might raise security issues, particularly when dealing with sensitive information.

ThinkComposer features and specs

  • Versatile Visualization Tools
    ThinkComposer offers a range of visualization tools that allow users to create complex diagrams, from mind maps to flowcharts, enhancing clarity and understanding.
  • Customizable Templates
    The software includes customizable templates which can be tailored to suit individual needs, saving time and effort in creating diagrams from scratch.
  • Hierarchical Design
    It supports hierarchical compositions, which means users can break down information into layers, making complex data more manageable and easier to navigate.
  • Open-Source
    ThinkComposer is open-source, which allows developers to contribute to its development and customize it as per their requirements.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    ThinkComposer is compatible with various platforms including Windows, enabling a wide range of users to access the software.

Possible disadvantages of ThinkComposer

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The comprehensive features and complex tools can lead to a steep learning curve, making it potentially daunting for new users.
  • Limited Support Documentation
    There is limited support documentation available, which can make troubleshooting and maximizing the software’s potential challenging for users.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional stability issues with the software, which can disrupt workflow and impede productivity.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface is considered outdated by modern standards, which can affect usability and aesthetic appeal.
  • Lack of Regular Updates
    The software lacks regular updates, which can result in missing out on new features and improvements that enhance functionality and security.

PlantUML videos

PlantUML - beautiful quick diagrams to explain your models

More videos:

  • Review - Folge16 - PlantUML und IntelliJ
  • Tutorial - PlantUML Gizmo Tutorial: Google Docs Add-on
  • Review - Mermaid vs PlantUML vs HackerDraw: Which One Is Best For You?
  • Review - Using PlantUML For Diagrams In A GitLab Wiki

ThinkComposer videos

ThinkComposer video demo

More videos:

  • Review - Instrumind ThinkComposer (for StartupChile)
  • Review - Creating a 'Sci-Fi Authors' concept map, using ThinkComposer

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PlantUML and ThinkComposer)
Diagrams
100 100%
0% 0
Brainstorming And Ideation
Flowcharts
100 100%
0% 0
Idea Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PlantUML and ThinkComposer

PlantUML Reviews

Top 7 diagrams as code tools for software architecture
PlantUML is a tool that allows you to write diagrams such as sequence, object, component, usecase, class diagrams and more.
5 great diagramming tools for enterprise and software architects
PlantUML is an open source tool and syntax that allows you to make sequence, use case, class, object, and other diagrams from code. It also supports non-UML diagrams like JSON and YAML. In addition, it enjoys support from ArchiMate, ERD, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), and other common notation styles. Its simple, plain-text definitions make creating, sharing, and...
Source: www.redhat.com
Software Diagrams - Plant UML vs Mermaid
For C4 Models, Mermaid support is still experimental. This shows as you have little control over the way the diagram is rendered, and some parts are unreadable (i.e., arrows over nodes). PlantUML works as you would expect and has support for more advanced setup like sprites. Not even close on this one. Winner: PlantUML
9 Best UML Software For Mac & PC
PlantUML is another free open source sequence diagram software that uses text input to build UML charts. PlantUML requires using a specific PlantUML Language to construct sequence charts but once learned it’s very flexible.
Source: machow2.com
40 Open Source, Free and Top Unified Modeling Language (UML) Tools
PlantUML is a component that allows users to quickly write sequence diagrams, usecase diagrams, class diagrams, activity diagrams, component diagrams, state diagrams, deployment diagrams, object diagrams and wireframe graphical interfaces. Diagrams are defined using a simple and intuitive language. Images can be generated in PNG, SVG or LaTeX format and it is also possible...

ThinkComposer Reviews

Best 7 Free Online XMind Alternatives for Windows
Next on the list is ThinkComposer. This is a simple XMind free software substitute that offers helpful features to visualize basic and complex information. Ideas can be further elaborated using markers, pictogram,s and a couple of hanging details. Since this is a desktop app, you will be able to create maps and visualize ideas offline.
Source: gitmind.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PlantUML seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 12 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.

PlantUML mentions (12)

  • Owning my own data, part 1: Integrating a self-hosted calendar solution
    That particular diagram seems to have been generated by https://plantuml.com according to the image's metadata. - Source: Hacker News / 28 days ago
  • Common Mistakes in Architecture Diagrams (2020)
    I have to confess I am guilty of this — I used to just draw some unstructured circles and arrows on a whiteboard and call it enough. Lately I've been trying to work my way through lots of different diagram types from https://plantuml.com/, and it does help to wrap my mind around the existing options. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • LLM + Mermaid: How Modern Teams Create UML Diagrams Without Lucidchart
    Today, tools like Mermaid and PlantUML have taken center stage, thanks to their ability to generate diagrams with text-based commands. Even better, AI-powered assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, and GitHub Copilot have made generating diagrams even easier. These tools work directly within a developer's environment, creating diagrams that are version-controlled and integrated seamlessly into workflows. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Blockdiag – simple diagram images generator – blockdiag 1.0 documentation
    While inactive blockdiag was small and nice for automatically annotating documentation. As you can see it hasn't been maintained for a few years. https://github.com/blockdiag/blockdiag With complex diagrams, I find good old PlantUML diagrams more useful if not as initially pretty as mermaid. Plus it will output archimate without having to touch that UI https://plantuml.com/ But really it is horses for courses.... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Introduction to Haskell Diagrams
    Use a high-level language like Plant UML, D2, Graphviz which are good for the purpose they are designed for, but not for generic purpose diagramming. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
View more

ThinkComposer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ThinkComposer yet. Tracking of ThinkComposer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PlantUML and ThinkComposer, you can also consider the following products

draw.io - Online diagramming application

Xmind - Xmind is a brainstorming and mind mapping application.

yEd - yEd is a free desktop application to quickly create, import, edit, and automatically arrange diagrams. It runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Unix/Linux.

Visual Understanding Environment - Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) is a mind-mapping and concept-mapping tool.

LucidChart - LucidChart is the missing link in online productivity suites. LucidChart allows users to create, collaborate on, and publish attractive flowcharts and other diagrams from a web browser.

FreeMind - FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java.