Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

yEd VS Pixi.js

Compare yEd VS Pixi.js and see what are their differences

yEd logo 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.

Pixi.js logo Pixi.js

Fast lightweight 2D library that works across all devices
  • yEd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-16
  • Pixi.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

yEd features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    yEd offers a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to get started and create diagrams without a steep learning curve.
  • Versatile Diagram Types
    The software supports a wide range of diagram types including flowcharts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and more, making it versatile for different needs.
  • Automatic Layouts
    yEd provides several powerful automatic layout algorithms that can quickly arrange complex diagrams into clear structures.
  • Cross-Platform
    yEd is compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • Free to Use
    yEd is free to download and use, which makes it an attractive option for individuals and organizations with budget constraints.

Possible disadvantages of yEd

  • Limited Collaboration Features
    yEd lacks built-in real-time collaboration features, which can be a disadvantage for teams needing to work simultaneously on the same diagram.
  • No Mobile Version
    There is no mobile version of yEd, which limits its usability for users who prefer creating diagrams on tablets or smartphones.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, some of the more advanced functionalities can have a steep learning curve and may require time to master.
  • Limited Integration Options
    yEd does not offer extensive integration options with other productivity tools or software, which can be a drawback for users looking for a more connected workflow.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Users have reported occasional performance issues, especially when dealing with very large and complex diagrams.

Pixi.js features and specs

  • High Performance
    Pixi.js utilizes WebGL to deliver high-performance rendering, which is ideal for building fast and responsive web applications and games.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple platforms, allowing developers to build applications that work seamlessly across different devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Pixi.js has comprehensive and well-documented resources that help developers understand how to use the library effectively, including tutorials and examples.
  • Rich Feature Set
    The library comes with a wide range of features such as textures, sprites, and filters, enabling developers to create visually complex and appealing content.
  • Active Community
    Pixi.js benefits from a large and active community, which means frequent updates, a wealth of plugins, and abundant community support.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source library, Pixi.js is free to use and modify, making it accessible to developers with different levels of expertise and budgets.

Possible disadvantages of Pixi.js

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its extensive documentation, beginners may find Pixi.js challenging to learn and integrate into their projects because of its extensive feature set.
  • WebGL Dependencies
    While WebGL provides high performance, it can also cause compatibility issues on older devices or browsers that do not fully support WebGL.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    Pixi.js is primarily a 2D rendering engine, so it may not be suitable for projects that require advanced 3D graphics and interactions.
  • Size
    Compared to simpler libraries, Pixi.js can be relatively large in terms of file size, which could impact the loading times of web applications, especially on slower networks.
  • Complex Debugging
    Debugging issues in Pixi.js can be complex, especially in large applications, as it often involves low-level graphics operations and WebGL debugging tools.

Analysis of yEd

Overall verdict

  • yEd is a good choice for users looking for a robust and versatile diagramming solution. Its free availability and rich features make it a strong contender among diagramming tools.

Why this product is good

  • yEd is considered a powerful diagramming tool because it offers an extensive range of features like automatic layout algorithms, various diagram types, easy-to-use interface, and cross-platform compatibility. It is especially appreciated for its ability to handle large data sets and produce clear, understandable visual representations quickly.

Recommended for

  • Business professionals who need to create organizational charts or flowcharts
  • Software developers who design complex system architectures
  • Researchers and analysts visualizing large data sets
  • Educators preparing educational materials
  • Students managing complex information for projects

Analysis of Pixi.js

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Pixi.js is generally considered a good choice for 2D graphics rendering on the web.

Why this product is good

  • Performance: Pixi.js is known for its fast 2D rendering performance, leveraging WebGL and falling back to HTML5 Canvas when necessary.
  • Ease of Use: It has a straightforward API, which makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.
  • Community: There's a strong and active community around Pixi.js, providing plenty of resources, plugins, and support.
  • Features: It offers a robust set of features for 2D graphics, including support for sprites, text, animation, and interaction.
  • Cross-Platform: Pixi.js works across different devices and browsers, ensuring broad compatibility.

Recommended for

  • Game Developers: Those looking to create 2D games with efficient rendering.
  • Web Developers: Developers needing to incorporate graphics or animations into their web projects.
  • Digital Artists: Artists wanting to create interactive experiences or digital art pieces.
  • Educators: Those educating others in graphics programming or web development.

yEd videos

yEd Graph Editor in 90 seconds

More videos:

  • Tutorial - yED Graph Editor Tutorial - Make flowcharts, trees, graph Freeware.

Pixi.js videos

PixiJS Crash Course

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to yEd and Pixi.js)
Diagrams
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100
Flowcharts
100 100%
0% 0
Development
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 yEd and Pixi.js

yEd Reviews

Best 7 Free Online XMind Alternatives for Windows
Another excellent tool that you can use for common and complex visual illustration is yEd. This aims to help users in terms of creating diagrams like UML, flowcharts, network diagram, org chart, and other process illustrations. With this XMind free alternative, you will find every icon and symbol you need for the aforementioned diagrams. On the other hand, users are...
Source: gitmind.com
40 Open Source, Free and Top Unified Modeling Language (UML) Tools
yEd is a desktop application that can be used to quickly and effectively generate high-quality diagrams. Users can create diagrams manually, or import their external data for analysis. yEd’s automatic layout algorithms arranges even large data sets with just the press of a button. yEd is freely available and runs on all major platforms: Windows, Unix/Linux, and Mac OS X.With...

Pixi.js Reviews

We have no reviews of Pixi.js yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pixi.js seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

yEd mentions (0)

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

Pixi.js mentions (5)

  • Release Radar • March 2024 Edition
    If you're into video game dev, then PixiJS is something you need to know about. It's a HTML5 game engine that provides a lightweight 2D library across all devices. This latest update has a new package structure, custom builds, graphics API overhaul, and lots more. You can read about all these changes in the PixiJS Migration Guide. Also big congrats to PixiJS for being part of the open source community for ten... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Advice about useful libraries to create a 2D car game (hill climb racing style)
    I would need a renderer to display the graphics of my calculations on the "backend". After some research I think pixijs which is written in TS could be a great tool. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is programming just not for me?
    And if that seems to up your alley you could look into Javascript game/renderer frameworks. They have 2D engines like https://github.com/photonstorm/phaser or https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs . Or my personal choice A-Frame which is a 3D, AR and VR engine (XR) https://github.com/aframevr/ . Source: over 2 years ago
  • Pixie – A full-featured 2D graphics library for Nim
    This has a high risk of being confused with pixi.js: https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Custome game engine: what stack ?
    WebGL, I hear, has a similar API to OpenGL. (Also, WebGPU is coming at some point.) Or, you could use a thin library that handles the WebGL drawing of sprites for you. I prefer that option over using a full game engine: I find it's better to only include dependencies when they become necessary. I recently tried a web rendering library called PixiJS, and it seemed like a pretty clean and nice-sized API, and... Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing yEd and Pixi.js, you can also consider the following products

draw.io - Online diagramming application

p5.js - JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences

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.

Anime.js - Lightweight JavaScript animation library

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

D3.js - D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS.