✍️reladraw: A New Text Language for Diagrams Without Installation
Draw Diagrams Without Installing Anything
TL;DR
reladraw is a text-based language for creating and modifying diagrams without needing to install anything. It's different from other tools like Mermaid, Graphviz, and D2, offering a middle ground between absolute positioning and auto-layout languages.
reladraw is a new text language for drawing diagrams without the need for installation. Unlike Mermaid, Graphviz, and D2, reladraw focuses on relative positioning, making it easier to modify existing diagrams without rebuilding them from scratch. This is a big deal for anyone working on complex diagrams that need frequent updates. The language is still in development, with a TypeScript parser, resolver, and SVG renderer already complete. It supports routing edges around nodes, drawing icons and shapes, and more, all without exact coordinates.
Key Points
reladraw uses a parser, resolver, and SVG renderer in TypeScript, no runtime dependencies needed.
The language supports minimal node-avoiding edge routing and machine-readable diagnostics from solved geometry.
reladraw can route edges around nodes and draw icons and shapes from path data inside the tool.
The language has a command-line tool that takes a text file and writes a standalone SVG.
reladraw's syntax is not stable and may change, but it's already usable for creating and modifying diagrams.
Why It Matters
If you're working with complex diagrams that need frequent updates, reladraw offers a unique solution. It allows you to modify diagrams without rebuilding them from the numbers, making it easier to keep diagrams up-to-date. The TypeScript-based parser, resolver, and SVG renderer ensure that the tool is lightweight and doesn't require any runtime dependencies.
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