Great article, should make sure to attribute xkcd comics though.
I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
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Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#32Should be Show HN . Now it reads like an ad for some extension to a program I've never heard about.
Pretty new to hn, thanks for the hint
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#33Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#34I love diagramming, but I genuinely don't understand how people can use these wonky looking tools. It looks off, I had to make my own[1] to create something that's easy to use and looks good/normal. [1] https://grafly.io
In Excalidraw, you can reduce (and completely remove) the "sloppiness" in the element properties.
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#35nice one!
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#36Another option I use open is to ask the code-agent to make a diagram using Tikz (as a .tex file), which can then be converted to pdf/png.
But in general AI-diagramming is still unsolved; needs several iterations to get rid of wonky/wrong arrows, misplaced boxes, misplaced text etc.
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Whiteboard handwriting is childish?
It's not on a whiteboard, nor was it written by hand. It's a computer font.
The Excalidraw website describes itself as: Excalidraw is a virtual collaborative whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them.
And the GitHub repo says: An open source virtual hand-drawn style whiteboard. Collaborative and end-to-end encrypted.
It's the intended design...
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's not on a whiteboard, nor was it written by hand. It's a computer font.
The Excalidraw website describes itself as: Excalidraw is a virtual collaborative whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. And the GitHub repo says: An open source virtual hand-drawn style whiteboard. Collaborative and end-to-end encrypted. It's the intended design...
Cool. I have stated my opinions on their intended design.
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
AI can generate mermaid diagrams, not excalidraw. If you use the mermaid to excalidraw, i guess it can be, but it just looks like a mermaid diagram then and not an excalidraw.
PlantUML is a better ask for LLMs, you have a lot more control over the output
100% agree
Re: I use Excalidraw to manage my diagrams for my blog
#40I love diagramming, but I genuinely don't understand how people can use these wonky looking tools. It looks off, I had to make my own[1] to create something that's easy to use and looks good/normal. [1] https://grafly.io
I like the wonky, hand-drawn looking style. I think it fits well beause usually if I use a diagram it's not 100% precise and accurate, but more a high-level illustration. The wonky style conveys the approximate precision of the presented concept. Also, and that's personal, I think it's cute.
I thought they were saying the tool is wonky looking, but ?