Electronics Block Diagram Software

[AntiProtonBoy]

I'm looking for a block diagram editing software, with electronics in mind. Preferably something open source. I don't need simulation or schematic editing capability. I just want a tool to visualise some ideas and draw them into detailed blocks and connect them up. I looked at a number flow chart editors, but they are not designed with engineering in mind. Most of the apps were designed for boardroom presentations. For example, common issue i had was difficulty in hooking up multiple connections between blocks, as the "pins" for each block could not be controlled, and the lines were they connected to a block not spaced equally, and so on.  Messy affair.

Examples what i'm looking for:







Any ideas?

[nctnico]

I use Microsoft Visio for these kind of diagrams and simple CAD work. Whatever package you use: you have to invest time into learning how to use it. Nice drawings don't grow on trees.

[balu]

Hello AntiProtonBoy,

Maybe yEd is the tool for you. It is free for private use, it is fast and easy

http://www.yworks.com/en/index.html

[Harvs]

I've used Visio for years and still find it annoying and clunky, requiring a lot of massaging to get connectors to look right.

Recently I've been using LucidChart.  No it's not open source and it's an online tool, but I've just been using the free version for small charts.  It's just so much quicker to get looking right than Visio.  Once the charts finished I just download it as a visio file and use it from there.

[codeboy2k]

I've used Dia in the past. It's open source, performs not too bad but not too great either.

Dia is here : http://dia-installer.de/

I'm going to try out Yed posted above, too.

[nctnico]

I've used Visio for years and still find it annoying and clunky, requiring a lot of massaging to get connectors to look right.

True; which is why I never use the 'connectors'. When drawing lines Visio can make them stick to the shape so there is very little added value using the connectors in Visio.

[Harvs]

Yeah neither do I, they're horrendous.  Just use lines.

But what LucidChart does is basically the same as Visio, only the connectors actually work the way they should. 

Would be a huge improvement on Visio if they could get that sorted.

[Dimitar Milushev]

Draw.io amazing site for anything related to block diagrams.
Better than anything I have ever found.

[Scrts]

Draw.io amazing site for anything related to block diagrams.
Better than anything I have ever found.

I agree. And it integrates with Google account (Google Drive) if you don't put any commercial secret there...

[SiliconWizard]

I also recommend yEd these days. I was a Dia user in the past, partly because it was open source, but mainly because it could export to EPS. But its UI was pretty awful.
yEd does the same much better, and can also export to EPS and SVG, among other formats.
Online tools? No thanks.

[voltsandjolts]

https://app.diagrams.net/

or

https://inkscape.org/

Inkscape is quite good at block diagrams if you setup a grid and stick to it, to keep alignment tidy.
I also use it for front panel layouts, block diagrams, assembly instructions, small schematics (like this example).
It's well worth the effort to learn the basics of inkscape.

[jpanhalt]

Second DrawIO (Google still?) at https://app.diagrams.net/

Unfortunately it is cloud based, but you can save locally if you want (I do).

[snarkysparky]

Try TinyCad. 

[Berni]

Any vector drawing tool works.

I personally use CorelDraw because i have it and know how to use it. But would not recommend buying it, its way overpriced for what it is.

Inkscape can be a nice free alternative

DrawIo above is a good choice too.

Heck even powerpoint can get the job done

[mikerj]

I third draw.io, used it pretty much exclusively for block diagrams the last couple of years.

[apurvdate]

If its simple block diagram or a generic placement/layout guideline for PCB, I use inkscape. Aligning & resizing objects is very easy in inkscape.

If you want to display flow control i.e. arrows, I will suggest dia or draw_io. Only thing that bugs me is the occasional odd snapping of arrow pointers in these 2 tools.
Dia has an extension 'diashapes', which consists ready drawings/logos categorized under multiple topics e.g. switches or relays if you want to draw an electrical wiring diagram. Even logic gates & more.

[Jeroen3]

LibreDraw works for me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice_Draw

It's like Visio. But 299.99 dollars cheaper.

[Evan.Cornell]

DrawIO does come in a desktop version, although it's a bit harder to find:
https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop/releases/tag/v15.2.7

[gerber]

Hard to find? Cant say I relate.
It's literally one of two buttons (Start and *Download*) mid-scene on their webpage, and it takes you directly to the github repo.

The version-agnostic link to get there is get.diagrams.net as pr today.

[DNMaina]

You mention you're looking for a block diagram editor specifically suited with electronics.
I know someone already mentioned draw.io. Which is great for general low level block diagrams.
If you want to turn things up a notch, I know you mentioned not needing a simulation tool however, try Collimator. It's essentially a Python written, cloud based Simulink alternative.

[rooppoorali]

I used microsoft visio for this purpose.