free, cheap or open source UML and Visio-like tool

Question

We're looking for free/cheap or open source UML tools. What tools have you used ? It's OK if there are 2 tools, one each for Flow charts and UML.

If a UML tool or Flow Chart tool is cheap(we're a NON-PROFIT), and no open source is good enough, we're open to look at them.

Thanks and BR,
~A

Solution 1

Simple and easy to use: JudeUML. There is a free Community Edition.

This software is now released as astah community.

Solution 2

It's online, but I think yUML is the best free tool I've used. I've used Violet for University work but found it clunky and crash-prone.

yUml only supports class diagrams, activity diagrams and use case diagrams though. Here's an example of its output:

Solution 3

StarUML is also a nice one

Solution 4

I use UMLet

Free, AND open source.

Why i like it : all the diagram have a "sourcecode", for exemple a class is "coded" like that.

<<Stereotype>>
Package::FatClass
{Some Properties}
--
-id: Long
-ClassAttribute: Long_
--
#Operation(i: int): int
/+AbstractOperation()/
--
Responsibilities
-- Resp1
-- Resp2

It's handy, and avoid heachache with graphical editor.

Edit : Thanks eric for the precision

Solution 5

There is for example DIA. Also, Visual Paradigm is a commercial UML editor that has a free community edition.

View more solutions

Comments

[pjp]

I like StarUML it's pretty nippy and produces pleasing diagrams. It's a shame that the open source project is somewhat dead due to Delphi falling out of fashion.

[Eric Bréchemier]

Actually UMLet is opensource: "Where is the source code? The source code is in the UMLet zip-file. (There is no makefile, no project file, and no ant-script.)" umlet.com/faq.htm It's a good tool for simple diagrams.

[Faisal Al-Harbi]

Neat! Not industrial strength, but perfect for the few small UML-like diagrams I sometimes need to make. Yay for S.O. and time for idle browsing, otherwise I'd never know about this.

[granadaCoder]

Visual Paradigm is pretty dern cool. (And I am using the Community Edition). Thanks Konamimian. One Up Vote.

[tomhelper]

yUML is great. Take a look at GenMyModel , same kind of online tool but with code generation.