Using Diagrams (draw.io) for Creating Flowcharts and Diagrams

This article introduces the free online diagramming tool diagrams (also known as draw.io ), which the author uses to create the illustrations in their posts.

It compares traditional tools such as visio and process on , then recommends diagrams as a free, web‑based alternative.

To start, open https://draw.io/ (or https://app.diagrams.net/ ) in a browser. After a short initialization, a dialog lets you choose a storage location (Device, OneDrive, GitHub, GitLab). The author prefers the Device option for local saving.

The main interface consists of several sections:

Menu bar : File, Edit, View, Arrange, Extras, Help.

Toolbar : common actions such as zoom, align, delete, style, etc.

Shape palette (left) : categories like General, IOS, and more via “More Shapes”.

Canvas (center) : where diagrams are drawn; supports grid, right‑click context menus, and page management.

Style panel (right) : allows customizing colors, fonts, shadows, and other properties.

Bottom bar : page navigation and management.

The article also shows how to rename diagrams, change file extensions, and add multiple pages for better organization.

In summary, diagrams offers a powerful, free solution for creating flowcharts, mind maps, and other diagrams without installing software.