1. About PlantUML

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Where system diagrams meet system reality

PlantUML is better known for UML-type diagrams (sequence, use case, state,…) and other non-UML diagrams (wireframes, mindmaps, gantt…)

  • It has a simple intuitive syntax that makes it quick and easy to create/share/modify such diagrams.

PlantUMLStdlib is not so well known

  • A simple intuitive syntax makes it quick and easy to create diagrams with icons.

1.1. Diagrams As Code

PlantUML diagrams are “Diagrams as Code” in PlantUML syntax.

There are many presentation and drawing tools out there. And these allow the user full control over the diagram so generally result in prettier diagrams that can convey more information to the audience at that point in time.

But that point in time passes, and pretty pictures can quickly become out-of-date and, ironically, misinforming if they don’t match the reality of the system they are describing. This is especially so if one team is drawing the pretty pictures, and another team is writing the software/implementing the system.

Having diagrams as code that can live beside the system code, that the stakeholders are equally comfortable editing and viewing, reduces the gap i.e. “Where system diagrams meet system reality”

Diagrams-As-Code fits with the “Everything-as-Code” movement.

And once you have your diagram as code, you can start using that diagram code for other things e.g. automated analysis and feedback based on recognised patterns.

1.2. Shared Lexicon of Understanding

Such “icon diagrams” are increasingly popular as functionality moves up the stack and a standard set of off-the-shelf components becomes available ala Cloud, Everything-As-A-Service, Serverless…..

Companies like AWS, Google, Microsoft publish architecture icon sets for these building blocks for architecture diagrams:

  1. https://aws.amazon.com/architecture/icons/

  2. https://cloud.google.com/icons

  3. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41937

These are the types of diagrams used for describing architectures as we see in Create Real Life AWS Diagrams where we recreate diagrams from the AWS architecture blog.

  • These establish a shared lexicon of understanding and allow users to focus on the things they’re trying to do.

  • They can also be understood by a broad audience, especially the customer.

  • They enable lightweight just-enough AgileModeling in a way that meets AgileModelingBP

These building block icons can be used with

  1. architecture diagrams to give an overview of the building blocks and how they are connected

  2. C4 Lightweight Software Architecture Description Method to give static views at different levels

  3. sequence diagrams to give dynamic views at different levels

1.3. Interview with Arnaud Roques (creator of PlantUML)

Tip

A coffee with Arnaud Roques (creator of PlantUML) gives a good background to PlantUML from the man himself.