Best tool to create "Architecture Diagrams" (not UML)

Question

I want to create an "architecture diagram" to explain our Software (libraries, Eclipse RCP, modules, features, etc.).

What is the correct name for such diagrams?
What is a good tool to create them? (I tried Visio and Enterprise Architect but didn't find a feature for that)

looking at this after 3 years of posting and someone just edited it — Aniket Inge, Feb 02 '14 at 04:11
https://www.draw.io/ is a very resourceful tool to have it in your list. Standout features of Collaboration using Google Drive,Dropbox. Wide set of assets easy drag and drop, on top of it's online. — Abhijeet, Aug 18 '15 at 02:33
Microsoft makes available templates for Visio (etc) for mapping Azure and Enterprise architectures (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41937) — Rowland Shaw, May 18 '17 at 12:00

score 17 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 06 '13 at 20:15

17

You can use whatever program you want as long as it can draw colored shapes.

Some people I know use PowerPoint, since you can make nice designs with it.

Or in Visio: New->General->Block Diagram. You can alter the design by right click->format->line. (You can make it more beautiful but I didn't want to spend to much time)

enter image description here

edited Nov 06 '13 at 20:15

pb2q

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answered Feb 16 '11 at 08:27

InsertNickHere

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@Absurd-Mind Thank you. Dont forget to click on "Blocks Raised" on the left to find these. – InsertNickHere Feb 16 '11 at 08:56
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You're not exactly good at Tetris. – Mathias Lykkegaard Lorenzen Jul 10 '17 at 07:12

score 16 · Answer 2 · edited May 03 '19 at 21:08

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I don't know if these diagrams have a specific name, I know them as layer diagrams since the describe the layers or stacks in the architecture.

You could create those diagrams in Visio - although I don't think there is a stencil that supports it directly. You could also try a number of other tools:

http://www.lovelycharts.com/
http://www.gliffy.com/
Microsoft Word (has good diagram support in later versions)
Paint.Net / GIMP

edited May 03 '19 at 21:08

user6039980

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answered Feb 16 '11 at 08:15

Matt Roberts

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thanks, "layer diagram" is a good name to google – Absurd-Mind Feb 16 '11 at 08:35
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Hey, if you're gonna remove my accepted answer, at least give me an upvote!! :P – Matt Roberts Feb 16 '11 at 09:22
sorry, i would, but i can't. rep < 15 :( – Absurd-Mind Feb 16 '11 at 10:13

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 16 '11 at 08:15

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I don't know what they're called, but I've never seen one more complex than only a couple of items, so you'll probably get away with drawing them in Paint even without too much effort.

answered Feb 16 '11 at 08:15

GolezTrol

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Best tool to create "Architecture Diagrams" (not UML)

3 Answers3