# draw.io Desktop — Open-Source Diagramming for Developers

> Cross-platform desktop application for creating flowcharts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and more with offline support and multi-format export.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# draw.io Desktop — Open-Source Diagramming for Developers

## Quick Use
```bash
# Download from GitHub releases for your platform
# macOS
brew install --cask drawio

# Linux (snap)
sudo snap install drawio

# Or download .dmg / .deb / .exe from releases
```

## Introduction
draw.io Desktop is the offline version of the popular draw.io diagramming web application. It provides a full-featured diagram editor without requiring a browser or internet connection, making it suitable for working with sensitive or air-gapped content.

## What draw.io Desktop Does
- Creates flowcharts, UML, ER diagrams, network topologies, and org charts with a drag-and-drop interface
- Exports to PNG, SVG, PDF, VSDX (Visio), and XML formats
- Integrates with Git-based workflows by saving diagrams as editable XML files
- Supports custom shape libraries and templates for domain-specific diagramming
- Runs fully offline as an Electron application on Windows, macOS, and Linux

## Architecture Overview
draw.io Desktop wraps the draw.io web editor inside Electron, bundling Chromium and the mxGraph rendering engine into a standalone application. Diagram data is stored as XML, which can be embedded inside PNG or SVG metadata for single-file portability. The app reads and writes directly to the local filesystem without any cloud dependency.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via Homebrew on macOS, Snap on Linux, or download binaries from the GitHub releases page
- No server component needed; the app is entirely self-contained
- Diagram files are plain XML and work well with version control systems
- Custom shape libraries can be loaded from local XML files
- Configuration is stored locally; no account or license key required

## Key Features
- Extensive shape library with hundreds of built-in icons for AWS, Azure, GCP, Cisco, and UML
- Real-time collaborative editing when used with the web version and shared storage backends
- Mermaid and PlantUML import support for converting text-based diagrams
- Keyboard shortcuts and search for rapid diagram construction
- Plugin system for extending editor functionality

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Excalidraw** — hand-drawn aesthetic, simpler but fewer shape libraries and no Visio export
- **Lucidchart** — polished SaaS product but proprietary and requires a subscription
- **Mermaid** — text-only diagramming rendered in Markdown; no visual drag-and-drop editor
- **PlantUML** — text-to-diagram for UML specifically; less flexible for general diagramming
- **yEd** — free desktop editor with auto-layout but closed-source and less community support

## FAQ
**Q: Can draw.io Desktop work with Visio files?**
A: Yes. It imports and exports .vsdx files, making it a practical open-source alternative for teams migrating away from Microsoft Visio.

**Q: Are diagrams stored in a proprietary format?**
A: No. Diagrams are saved as standard XML, optionally embedded inside PNG or SVG files. The format is open and documented.

**Q: Does it require an internet connection?**
A: No. The desktop version runs entirely offline. Cloud storage integrations (Google Drive, OneDrive) are optional.

**Q: Is it free for commercial use?**
A: Yes. draw.io Desktop is released under the Apache 2.0 license and is free for both personal and commercial use.

## Sources
- https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop
- https://www.drawio.com/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-0bd6dbb4
Author: Script Depot