Since there are hundreds of possible network diagram symbols, this guide will depict only the most common symbols and icons. Network diagrams can show everything from high-level networks, such as connectivity across cities, to more granular networks, such as an office building's network. This makes diagramming with Mermaid very convenient if you're developing software on GitHub.Network diagrams are useful for mapping the connections in a computer or telecommunications network. It is supported by GitHub and uses Markdown-style notation to create and modify diagrams. Like PlantUML, Mermaid follows the diagrams-as-code model. PlantUML also supports custom sprites, so you can add icons where they are missing. You can store the diagram sources next to your code and update them in the same pull request. Its simple, plain-text definitions make creating, sharing, and modifying diagrams straightforward. In addition, it enjoys support from ArchiMate, ERD, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), and other common notation styles. It also supports non-UML diagrams like JSON and YAML. PlantUML is an open source tool and syntax that allows you to make sequence, use case, class, object, and other diagrams from code. While Excalidraw has fans, I prefer a text-based diagram tool. You also can't easily see your history of changes. Because Excalidraw is a browser-based tool, you have to open a browser tab and make changes visually, which can be inconvenient. It is not super-flexible, but it is intuitive to start using and has a color set that helps you create good-looking diagrams in no time.Īs your system evolves, you must update your diagrams to reflect those changes. It's especially nice if you appreciate more of a hand-drawn feel. If you're feeling brave and want to try a virtual whiteboard, Excalidraw is an excellent alternative to. Excalidraw Architecture Weekly YouTube channel cover example supports external libraries, including one that implements the C4 model. You can also modify elements without having to change the entire diagram with this tool.īecause you can download your diagrams as simple text files, you can save them to standard file storage like Google Drive or a Git repository, create backups, and share. Many people use for diagramming business processes, data flows, and networks. Where do you even begin with, formerly known as Draw.io? Besides being free of charge, it also has a low learning curve, so anyone can quickly start creating diagrams or whiteboards. C4 mimics this approach, starting with the general context in which your system works and ending with class diagrams. Take another step, and you can see your district or neighbourhood finally, you might zoom down to a street view. Then you can zoom in to a city level and see major roads and the city's structure. The C4 model is derived from physical maps: You can look at a location from a high level, like a country, and see your city in the context of other cities and countries. Relying on older modelling techniques like Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Entity Relations Diagrams (ERD), C4 breaks a system into architectural building blocks to help explain relationships between things like containers and components. The C4 model (or C4 notation) is a technique created by software architect Simon Brown for modelling the architecture of software systems. And whichever you pick, remember that good notation is essential to ensuring someone understands what you're trying to convey in a diagram. Here are five that you might want to consider. There are seemingly an infinite number of diagram types and tools, and as with language, you need to decide which one you want to speak.Īmong all of the architectural diagramming tools, there are a few that rise to the top. The perfect tool can mean the difference between success and chaos, as even the smallest tool can have a tremendous impact on your productivity and happiness.ĭiagrams serve as a powerful common language to document the current state of a system or envision a future one. A systems architect's role is to communicate a vision through diagrams, presentations, robust documentation, and other methods.
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