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Show HN: Gleek diagram maker – UML class, Sequence, ER diagrams, Flowcharts

by vladojsem on 3/4/21, 11:16 AM with 57 comments

  • by Oras on 3/4/21, 3:30 PM

    Most comments addressed why it would be better than plantuml and mermaid. If you can add a feature to export the diagram as a GIF with animation to show the sequence, this would be a great feature IMHO.

    Why I see animation as a vital feature:

    - This would give clarity to both developers and product owners.

    - When there is a new feature in the system, it will be easier to add change and export.

    - Easily embed in README files.

    - To my knowledge, this feature is not available in any diagram software.

  • by vladojsem on 3/4/21, 11:19 AM

    Hello HN,

    my friends and I made Gleek.io - a diagram maker focused on speed - typing code is much faster than drag-and-drop - for developers, it is more natural to write than to draw - generate a diagram with connections

    The features of Gleek.io include: - 16 different shapes to use - Various connections based on the diagram type - Diagrams saved locally in a browser as well as on Gleek.io servers - Dashboard with the overview of your diagrams with the option to search - Free Templates (type /) and Syntax help to make it easier to start - Rotation of the diagram, SVG download of a diagram, diagram link sharing, fit to screen layout

    Create your first diagram in Gleek.io & write your feedback

    Example to try: Type "Shape1-->Shape2" for your first diagram

  • by ducharmdev on 3/4/21, 3:30 PM

    Although your UX looks a bit more appealing, this is what you are competing with: https://mermaid-js.github.io/mermaid-live-editor

    So when determining your price point, you need to provide a fairly substantial service on top of this to justify a monthly cost. Particularly when you're targeting developers and architects, who are more likely to use free open-source alternatives even if the UX is not as good.

  • by kofejnik on 3/4/21, 2:46 PM

    This looks nice, congrats!

    However, it makes zero sense to me as a 13 euro/mo service. It is just a single-purpose tool which I need occasionally, so I might be inclined to pay something like $10 for it, once. But monthly payment? Maybe if you're systems analyst at IBM and creating UML diagrams is literally your job.

  • by gegtik on 3/4/21, 1:51 PM

    Two comments about "prior art":

    - This reminds me of plantuml and mermaid: how do you see yourself as different? Is it the reactive display of contents as you type?

    - Naming-wise: I'm curious - are you aware that in some places "Gleek" means to spit by directly squeezing your salivary glands?

  • by mono-bob on 3/4/21, 6:58 PM

    Maybe It's just me, but I think the free tier description on the pricing page [1] is confusing.

    - (CHECK) Use the full set of Gleek diagramming features

    - (CROSS) Limited to 5 diagram files

    - (CROSS) Limited to 40 diagram object

    - (CROSS) Diagrams are stored on Gleek servers

    - (CROSS) Share links to diagrams using your favorite collaboration tool

    - (CROSS) Priority support on Slack

    There are checkmarks and crosses. The first item seems clear because it had a checkmark and is included in the free tier. But it seems to me that the next two items (limited to 5 diagram files and 40 diagram object) are also included, but they have a cross next to them. While the last two items also have a cross but are not included.

    Lastly, I think there is a small typo and the "40 diagram object" should be "40 diagram objects."

    Good luck!

    [1] https://www.gleek.io/pricing.html

    Edit: fixed formatting

  • by ta988 on 3/4/21, 1:56 PM

    How does that differ from mermaid, plantuml and the myriad of others?

    Do you protect your clients in any way for the risk of loosing diagrams if your company goes down the drain?

  • by 3ace on 3/4/21, 3:32 PM

    Reading the pricing detail for free tier at a glance is a little bit of confusing because of the icon and font color used on certain feature, I had to read the next tier to (probably) understand it further.

    Is the free tier limited to 4 diagrams? Is the free tier limited to 40 diagrams? Is the free tier permit the user to save the diagram on Gleek server? and so on...

  • by swalsh on 3/4/21, 4:44 PM

    I'm a really visual person, so I love making diagrams to explain my ideas. Unfortuantely I can't "think" while i'm typing. In fact, I can't really think while I'm in front of a computer. I usually draw everything out on a dry erase white board.

    This could solve my second problem, which is to take my drawings and convert them into something presentable and consumerable by other people. But this is not my ideal way to do it. Ideally, I could take a picture of the white board, and it would be auto generated.

  • by jayonsoftware on 3/4/21, 3:44 PM

    First of all I do not mind paying for it, end of the day I do not want to set up things (Server, Docker etc), I just played with it for 10 min.

    1. For some reason "Syntax Error" kept popping up. 2. The UI need some work...look at Lucid Chart 3. Having an API will so we can call from other apps 4. Just PNG is not enough, may be add SVG

    I am happy to get on a 30 min zoom call and discuss all this as I tried to create some thing like this using DS3 last year. Feel free to ping me at @jayonsoftware

    Jay

  • by clawoo on 3/4/21, 2:38 PM

    Maybe I am missing something, but I'm having difficulty figuring out what a proper diagram definition is supposed to look like.

    You could take inspiration from plantuml-editor (https://plantuml-editor.kkeisuke.com/#) and add a template/demo button that allows user to get a predefined diagram so they can experiment with it.

  • by alexf95 on 3/4/21, 2:11 PM

    Looks like a powerful Tool, are there any Tutorial videos showing how to use it effectively?

  • by colordrops on 3/4/21, 4:52 PM

    Where I grew up (Inland Empire in Southern California), gleek was slang for spitting droplets of water from under your tongue. I'd never be able to dissociate the name from this. Similar to people who associate Gimp with certain things.

    https://youtu.be/BV4ZeNvXfhk

  • by goertzen on 3/5/21, 12:05 AM

    Barely related, but I feel like OP or commenters will know.

    What’s this, realtime live preview/hot reload of text to diagram called?