PlantUML

How to Decide

PlantUML is known for generating a wide range of UML and other diagrams from simple textual descriptions and is used by developers and technical writers. The alternatives split into a few clear camps: Mermaid leans into markdown‑like syntax and tight integration with Git platforms such as GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket; drawDB emphasizes a browser‑based, drag‑and‑drop interface for ER diagram design with built‑in SQL generation and Git repository syncing; d2 focuses on self‑hosted deployment with a Go‑based CLI that fits into CI pipelines and offers live‑preview theming in the browser.

When comparing these tools, consider (1) the breadth of diagram types each supports – PlantUML and Mermaid cover many UML and flowchart styles, while drawDB is specialized for database schemas and d2 limits itself to 2D graphs; (2) the deployment model – PlantUML and d2 can be self‑hosted, drawDB runs entirely in the browser, and Mermaid is typically used as a library within other platforms; (3) integration ecosystem – PlantUML plugs into IDEs like Eclipse and IntelliJ, Mermaid integrates with Git‑hosted markdown workflows, and d2 offers CLI/GitHub Actions hooks; (4) output format flexibility – PlantUML and Mermaid export PNG, SVG and EPS, whereas drawDB adds PDF export; and (5) collaboration features – drawDB provides real‑time multi‑user editing, a capability not present in PlantUML, Mermaid, or d2.