In today’s business world, process visualisation has become a key element in understanding, optimising and communicating workflows within a company. Workflow charts are invaluable tools for achieving this goal. In this article, we’ll explore the five best open source solutions for creating visual workflow charts, while keeping an eye on the possibility of linking these diagrams to easily modifiable code.
1. draw.io (diagrams.net)
Key points:
- Intuitive graphical interface
- Wide range of shapes and styles
- Integration with Google Drive, OneDrive and GitHub
- Desktop and web versions available
- Export to a wide range of formats (PNG, SVG, PDF, etc.)
Advantages :
- Easy to handle
- Versatile for all types of diagrams
Disadvantages :
- Less suitable for automated integration into development pipelines
- Limited functionality for real-time collaboration in the free version
Ideal for : Users who prefer a graphical interface and need to create a variety of diagrams quickly.
Licence: Apache 2.0 (completely open source and free)
2. Mermaid
Key points:
- Simple text-based syntax
- Excellent for integration into Markdown documents and wikis
- Easy to version with Git
- Dynamic rendering possible in browsers
Advantages :
- Easy integration into development workflows
- Perfect for technical teams
Disadvantages :
- No graphical interface for creating diagrams
- Diagram types more limited than some visual tools
Ideal for : Developers and technical teams who work a lot with Markdown and prefer to define their diagrams in code.
Licence: MIT (100% open source and free)
3. PlantUML
Key points:
- Supports a wide variety of UML diagrams
- Powerful, expressive textual syntax
- Strong integration with numerous IDEs and documentation tools
- Diagram generation from existing source code
Advantages :
- Very complete for UML diagrams
- Excellent for development teams
Disadvantages :
- Steeper learning curve for syntax
- Less suitable for non-UML diagrams
Ideal for : Development teams who need to create detailed UML diagrams and want to integrate them tightly into their development process.
Licence: GPL (open source and free)
4. BPMN.io
Key points:
- Specialising in BPMN diagrams
- Easy-to-use interactive web interface
- Ability to run modelled processes with BPMN engines
- Good documentation and an active community
Advantages :
- Industry standard for business processes
- Ability to run modelled processes
Disadvantages :
- Limited mainly to BPMN diagrams
- Can be complex for users unfamiliar with BPMN
Ideal for : Business analysts and teams who need to accurately model business processes according to BPMN standards.
Licence: bpmn.io licence (based on MIT) for the core, some advanced components may be chargeable
5. Flowchart.js
Key points:
- Lightweight and easy to integrate into web applications
- Diagrams are defined in JSON
- Easy customisation with CSS
- Good choice for simple flowcharts
Advantages :
- Facilitates the programmatic generation of diagrams
- Lightweight solution for web applications
Disadvantages :
- Limited functionality compared with more comprehensive tools
- Less suitable for complex diagrams
Ideal for : Web developers who need to integrate simple flowcharts into their applications and want a lightweight, easily customisable solution.
Licence: MIT (completely open source and free)
Conclusion
Each of these tools offers unique advantages for creating workflow charts. The final choice will depend on your specific needs, the expertise of your team and your technical environment. The open source aspect of these solutions means that they are not only free to use, but can also be modified and adapted to your specific needs.
Whether you prefer an intuitive graphical interface, text-based syntax for better integration with version control, or a specialised solution for business processes, there is a tool that will meet your needs. Feel free to experiment with these different options to find the one that best suits your business.
