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100 cases of ChatGPT combat - (07) Competition of text drawing tools
1. Requirements and Ideas
Recently, it is often necessary to draw various diagrams for academic papers, course design, presentations, etc.
However, the popular version of ChatGPT does not yet have the function of drawing diagrams.
In fact, there are a large number of text drawings in the industry for commonly used graphics such as office diagrams and UML. tools are available.
Text drawing tools provide us with a simple and efficient way to draw various diagrams and flowcharts. No need for complex interfaces and tools, just need to master simple text syntax, you can easily generate beautiful graphics.
The basic idea of combining with ChatGPT is:
- Use ChatGPT to generate the drawing grammar corresponding to the text drawing tool
- Corresponding text drawing tools use drawing syntax drawing
filter first
2. Determine the comparative items
question:
常用的文本绘图工具有哪些？
Answer:
The commonly used text drawing tools mainly include the following types:
- Plantuml: An open source text drawing tool that uses simple text syntax to describe various diagrams such as UML diagrams, flowcharts, and Gantt charts, and can automatically generate pictures. Its syntax is easy to learn, and the generated graphs are beautiful and intuitive, so it is the most popular and commonly used text drawing tool.
- Mermaid: A text drawing tool that focuses on drawing flowcharts, state diagrams, and architecture diagrams. It uses a syntax similar to Markdown to define graphics, which can be easily integrated into Markdown documents and Wiki, and the generated pictures are also more beautiful. Therefore, if you want to focus on drawing process business-related diagrams, Mermaid is a good choice.
- Graphviz: An open source text drawing tool, focusing on data structure and algorithm-related graphics drawing. It uses the .dot file format to define various graphs, and can generate simple and intuitive graphics. However, its grammar is relatively complicated, and the generated pictures are relatively simple, so it is suitable for people with a certain foundation to use in specific fields.
- Vega & Vega-lite: A text-based interactive visual graphics language that can generate various custom interactive charts and maps. Its syntax is relatively simple, but it requires certain data and JS capabilities, and the generated effect is also outstanding, so it is more suitable for data visualization and interactive chart drawing.
- Ditaa: A simple text-to-picture tool that uses simple letters and numbers to define various graphics and automatically converts them into pictures. Its syntax is simple, and the generated pictures are relatively simple. It is mainly used for the conversion of simple graphics, and is not suitable for complex business diagram drawing.
In addition, there are other text drawing languages and tools such as GraphML and DOT.
Generally speaking, Plantuml, Mermaid and Graphviz are three widely used and comprehensive text drawing tools. According to the type and complexity of graphics required, you can choose the appropriate tool. But in terms of versatility and ease of use, Plantuml should be the text drawing tool of choice.
ok, compare
3. Comparison of sub-characteristics
question:
比较一下plantuml，graphviz和 Mermaid 的绘图功能
Answer:
Plantuml, Graphviz and Mermaid are all very popular open source drawing tools. The following compares the three from various aspects:
- Supported graph types:
- Plantuml supports UML diagrams and non-UML diagrams such as flowcharts and Gantt diagrams, covering a relatively comprehensive range.
- Graphviz focuses on graphs related to 292* data structures and algorithms, and supports fewer graph types.
- Mermaid focuses on diagrams related to business processes such as flowcharts, state diagrams, and pie diagrams, and supports a relatively single type of diagram.
- Drawing method:
- Plantuml and Mermaid use simple text syntax to define graphics, which are easy to understand and remember, and have low learning costs.
- Graphviz needs to write more structured and strict .dot text files to define graphics, and the learning cost is relatively high, so it is suitable for people with a certain foundation.
- Rendering effect:
- Plantuml can render intuitive and beautiful graphics, and the effect is better. The pictures rendered by Mermaid are also neat and beautiful.
- The graphic effect rendered by Graphviz is average and relatively simple.
- Integration Capabilities:
- Both Plantuml and Mermaid can be easily embedded into various systems and tools such as Wiki and Markdown, and have strong integration capabilities.
- Graphviz itself is a command-line tool that requires other interfaces or systems to be packaged and integrated to be used at a higher level, and the integration ability is slightly inferior.
In summary, if you want to choose an all-round drawing tool, Plantuml will be the first choice; if you want to choose a tool that focuses on business process diagrams, Mermaid works well; if you want to choose a tool that focuses on data structure and algorithm diagrams, Graphviz is also good. The three have their own advantages, and the choice depends on the specific usage scenarios and needs. However, as a general-purpose drawing tool, Plantuml has certain advantages in terms of supported graph types, ease of use, and rendering effects.
So, if you want to comprehensively compare the drawing functions of these three, I will give the following ranking:
- Plantuml
- Mermaid
- graphviz
Fourth, feature comparison visualization
question:
简化描述，并使用markdown表格展示
Answer:
Here is a simple description and comparison of the three drawing tools Plantuml, Graphviz and Mermaid using the markdown table:
| tool | Plantuml | graphviz | Mermaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported graph types | UML diagrams, flowcharts, Gantt charts, etc. | Data Structure Diagram and Algorithm Diagram | Flow charts, state diagrams, pie charts, etc. |
| drawing method | simple text syntax | .dot file | simple text syntax |
| rendering effect | better | generally | better |
| Integration capability | stronger | weaker | stronger |
It can be seen that through the concise markdown table, the main features of the three drawing tools are intuitively summarized and compared, including the types of graphics they support, drawing methods, rendering effects, and integration capabilities.
Among these three open source drawing tools, Plantuml is an all-round tool with strong functions in all aspects; Graphviz focuses on data structure and algorithm-related graphics, which is relatively simple; Mermaid focuses on business flow charts, and it also works well .
To sum up, if you want to choose a general-purpose drawing tool, Plantuml will be a good first choice; if you want to choose a simple and dedicated tool, you can choose Graphviz or Mermaid according to your specific needs. But in general, Plantuml has great advantages in function and ease of use.
So, if one were to rank the three, my options would be:
- Plantuml
- Mermaid
- In the future selection and application of Graphviz
, we can choose the appropriate tool for different drawing needs according to the information in the above table. But as a global and general tool comparison, Plantuml can be regarded as the best of the three.
V. Summary
In the process of combining with ChatGPT, it was found that:
- Plantuml er chart is easy to use, Gantt chart is not easy to use, flow chart is easy to use
- Mermaid er charts are not easy to use Gantt charts are easy to use flowcharts are easy to use
- Graphviz is highly flexible, difficult to use and not very easy to use
To review, the main promptknowledge points in this section:
- tool list
常用的文本绘图工具有哪些？
- feature comparison
比较一下plantuml，graphviz和 Mermaid 的绘图功能
- feature comparison visualization
简化描述，并使用markdown表格展示
Possible abstract usages:
- Multi-property analysis of a small number of things