# draw.io — Free Open-Source Diagramming Tool for Any Platform

> draw.io is a free, browser-based diagramming application that supports flowcharts, UML, network diagrams, and more. Works offline as a desktop app on Windows, macOS, and Linux with no account required.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# draw.io — Free Open-Source Diagramming Tool for Any Platform

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install the desktop app via Homebrew (macOS)
brew install --cask drawio

# Or download the AppImage for Linux
wget https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop/releases/latest/download/drawio-amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i drawio-amd64.deb

# Or use the web version directly at https://app.diagrams.net
```

## Introduction
draw.io (also known as diagrams.net) is a free, open-source diagramming tool that runs in the browser or as a desktop application. It was created to give teams a no-cost, no-account-required alternative to commercial tools like Lucidchart or Visio.

## What draw.io Does
- Creates flowcharts, UML diagrams, ER diagrams, network topologies, and org charts
- Stores files locally, on Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or GitHub
- Provides 100+ built-in shape libraries for AWS, Azure, GCP, Cisco, and more
- Exports to PNG, SVG, PDF, VSDX, and XML formats
- Integrates with Confluence, Jira, VS Code, and Notion via official plugins

## Architecture Overview
draw.io is a pure JavaScript client-side application built on the mxGraph library. The entire editor runs in the browser with no server-side processing of diagram data. The desktop version wraps the web app in Electron, giving native file-system access and offline capability. Storage integrations use OAuth to connect directly from the browser to cloud providers.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy the web editor on any static file server or Nginx instance
- Run the Docker image: `docker run -d -p 8080:8080 jgraph/drawio`
- Configure CSP headers for enterprise lockdown of storage backends
- Customize default libraries and templates via XML configuration files
- Enable server-side PDF export by adding the export server container

## Key Features
- Completely free with no feature gating, watermarks, or usage limits
- Works fully offline in the desktop version
- Real-time collaboration when paired with Google Drive or Confluence
- Keyboard-driven editing with extensive shortcut support
- Version history and diff support when stored in Git

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Lucidchart** — polished collaboration but requires a paid subscription for teams
- **Visio** — deep Windows integration but expensive and Windows-only
- **Excalidraw** — great for hand-drawn style but lacks formal diagram shape libraries
- **Mermaid** — text-based diagrams ideal for docs but no visual drag-and-drop editor
- **PlantUML** — code-driven UML generation but steeper learning curve for non-developers

## FAQ
**Q: Is draw.io really free for commercial use?**
A: Yes. The core editor is Apache 2.0 licensed and free for any use, including commercial.

**Q: Can I self-host draw.io for my organization?**
A: Yes. Deploy the Docker image or serve the static files from your own infrastructure. No license key needed.

**Q: Does draw.io support real-time collaboration?**
A: Collaboration requires a shared storage backend like Google Drive or Confluence. The editor itself does not include a real-time sync server.

**Q: How does draw.io compare to Excalidraw?**
A: draw.io is better suited for formal technical diagrams (UML, AWS architectures) while Excalidraw excels at informal whiteboard-style sketches.

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

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-dd235d25
Author: Script Depot