Microservice Architecture Diagram Tools

TODO: collapasable, copyable, download, etc

There are a bunch of libraries and tools for going from text to diagram. I know about D2, Mermaid, and Graphviz. Please think of all of the best ones. What are the best ones for showing an architectural digram for how a bunch of micro-services call each other and the infrastructure around itCreating architectural diagrams for microservices and the surrounding infrastructure involves visualizing complex systems with many interconnected components. The best tools for this task combine ease of use, flexibility, and the ability to represent various aspects of system architecture. Here are some highly regarded tools for creating such diagrams:

1. Graphviz: A classic tool for generating diagrams from textual descriptions. Its DOT language allows detailed description of graphs, which is useful for mapping out microservice architectures.

2. Mermaid: This tool allows for the creation of diagrams using Markdown-like syntax, which can be particularly useful for documentation stored in version control systems. It's less powerful than Graphviz in terms of layout control but is easier to integrate into documentation workflows.

3. PlantUML: Similar to Mermaid but with a different syntax, PlantUML is widely used for creating UML diagrams. It's highly versatile and can be used for architectural diagrams as well.

4. Lucidchart: This is a web-based tool that offers extensive features for diagramming and is known for its user-friendly interface. It supports the creation of complex microservice architecture diagrams and allows collaboration among team members.

5. Draw.io (now diagrams.net): A free, web-based tool that is quite popular for its simplicity and integration with various platforms like Google Drive and Confluence. It offers a wide range of shapes and templates for different kinds of architectural diagrams.

6. Microsoft Visio: A part of the Microsoft Office family, Visio is a powerful diagramming tool with extensive features for creating detailed and professional-looking diagrams. It's particularly well-suited for enterprise environments.

7. Terrastruct: Specifically designed for software architecture diagramming, Terrastruct allows you to create layered diagrams that can represent different aspects of your system in a clear and detailed manner.

8. C4 Model with Structurizr: The C4 model is a framework for visualizing software architecture, and Structurizr is a tool that supports this model. It's great for creating high-level diagrams that can then be drilled down into more detailed views.

Each of these tools has its own strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, such as the complexity of the architecture, the level of detail required, integration with other tools, and personal or team preferences in terms of usability and learning curve.Don't include tools that are UIs. Please focus on textual sourceFor creating architectural diagrams from textual sources, especially for microservices and their surrounding infrastructure, the focus shifts to tools that can interpret and render diagrams based on textual descriptions. Here are some of the best options:

1. Graphviz: It stands out for its powerful graph description language, DOT. Graphviz is excellent for generating complex network diagrams, which makes it suitable for visualizing microservice architectures and their interactions.

2. Mermaid: This tool enables the creation of diagrams and flowcharts using a Markdown-like syntax. It's particularly useful for embedding diagrams in documentation, as it integrates well with Markdown-based tools and platforms.

3. PlantUML: Known for its ability to generate UML diagrams from plain text, PlantUML is versatile enough to be used for architectural diagrams. It supports a variety of diagram types and can be integrated into different documentation workflows.

4. WebSequenceDiagrams: Specializing in sequence diagrams, this tool is helpful for depicting interactions between microservices over time. It uses a simple text language to describe the sequence of events.

5. Textografo: This is another cloud-based tool that allows you to create diagrams (including flowcharts and mind maps) from text. While it's not as widely used as some others, its text-to-diagram approach can be efficient for quickly sketching out architectures.

6. AsciiDoctor Diagram: If you're using AsciiDoctor for documentation, this extension can generate diagrams from plain text within the AsciiDoctor framework. It supports various diagram types, including sequence diagrams and Graphviz graphs.

7. yUML: This tool is designed for creating UML diagrams from simple textual descriptions. It's particularly useful for creating class and activity diagrams but can be adapted for basic architectural diagrams as well.

8. Viz.js: It's essentially a port of Graphviz to JavaScript. Viz.js allows you to use the DOT language in a web environment, making it a good choice for online documentation or web-based project management tools.

These tools prioritize textual input for diagram creation, making them suitable for scenarios where diagrams need to be maintained alongside code or documentation in version control systems. They offer a range of functionalities from simple flow diagrams to complex network visualizations, catering to various needs in visualizing microservice architectures.Can you change how thick the lines are in a mermaid diagram?Yes, in Mermaid diagrams, you can adjust the thickness of lines (or arrows) in flowcharts and other diagrams. This customization is done using the style directive within the Mermaid syntax. However, the level of control over line thickness is somewhat limited compared to more sophisticated graphical tools.

To change the line thickness in a Mermaid diagram, you would typically use a style statement targeting the link or arrow. Here's a basic example of how you might do it:

graph LR
    A --- B
    style A-B stroke-width:2px;

In this example, A --- B defines a line from node A to node B, and style A-B stroke-width:2px; sets the thickness of that line to 2 pixels.

Please note that the exact syntax and capabilities can depend on the version of Mermaid being used and the platform where it's being rendered (some platforms might have restrictions or additional customization options). Always refer to the latest Mermaid documentation for the most accurate and detailed information.Could this be put into a theme?Yes, in Mermaid, you can incorporate custom styles, including line thickness, into a theme. Mermaid supports custom themes which allow you to define a consistent style for your diagrams, including aspects like line thickness, colors, font styles, and more. This is especially useful when you want to apply a consistent look and feel across multiple diagrams.

To include line thickness changes in a custom theme, you would typically modify the CSS properties within the theme definition. Here's a basic structure of how you might create a custom theme in Mermaid:

1. Define a Custom Theme: Create a CSS file or a section within your existing CSS that defines the styles for your Mermaid diagrams.

2. Specify Line Thickness: In your custom theme, specify the stroke-width property for the lines or arrows you want to style. For example:

   .mermaid .arrow {
       stroke-width: 2px;
   }
   

   This would set the thickness of all arrows in Mermaid diagrams to 2 pixels.

3. Apply the Theme: When initializing Mermaid in your HTML or Markdown file, specify the use of your custom theme. The way to do this can vary depending on how you're using Mermaid (e.g., directly in HTML, in a Markdown file, in a specific documentation platform, etc.).

Here's a simple example of how you might reference a custom theme in an HTML file:

<!-- Include Mermaid script -->
<script src="path/to/mermaid.min.js"></script>

<!-- Initialize Mermaid with your custom theme -->
<script>
    mermaid.initialize({ theme: 'myCustomTheme' });
</script>

In this setup, myCustomTheme refers to the theme you've defined in your CSS.

Remember, the exact method of applying the theme may vary depending on the environment you're working in. Always check the latest Mermaid documentation and the documentation of the platform you're using (like a specific Markdown renderer or documentation generator) for the most accurate guidance.Same question for D2As of my last update in April 2023, D2 (D2.js or D3.js) is a JavaScript library for producing dynamic, interactive data visualizations in web browsers. It's widely used for creating complex graphs and visualizations and provides extensive capabilities for customizing the appearance of these visualizations, including line thickness.

To change the line thickness in a D2/D3 diagram, you would typically modify the SVG attributes directly in your D2/D3 code. Here’s a basic example of how you might do this:

d3.selectAll(".myLineClass")
  .style("stroke-width", "2px");

In this example, .myLineClass is a class assigned to the lines whose thickness you want to change, and 2px sets the thickness of those lines. You can adjust the stroke-width attribute to any desired value.

If you want to create a consistent theme across multiple visualizations in D2/D3, you would typically do this by defining a set of standard styles that you apply to each visualization. This could be done in several ways:

1. Using CSS: Define common styles for your visualizations in a CSS file and apply these classes to your D2/D3 elements.

2. Standardized D2/D3 Code: Create a set of standard functions or configuration objects in your D2/D3 code that apply your desired styles to elements. This approach is more flexible than CSS, as it allows you to dynamically adjust styles based on the data.

3. External Configuration: Define your styles in an external JSON or JavaScript configuration file and apply these styles when you create your visualizations.

Remember, D2/D3 is a very flexible library, and the way you implement a theming approach can vary widely based on the specifics of your project and your personal coding style. The examples provided here are quite basic and intended to give you a starting point. For more complex implementations, you would likely need to combine these approaches and possibly use more advanced features of D2/D3.

Microservice Architecture Diagram Tools created at Tue Jan 20 1970 17:27:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)