Typing is the quickest way to build a diagram, but you can also draw by hand, choose shapes and icons, and decide how much Nodeslate arranges for you.
The toolbox
The toolbox on the left of the canvas holds basic shapes and components. Pick one, then click or drag on the canvas to draw it. Drag from a box's dot to draw a line by hand. Click a line to change its style, colour or label.
Shapes and icons
More shapes and icons at the bottom of the toolbox opens the full library. It has basic shapes, architecture pieces such as services, queues and databases, and the official AWS architecture icons. On architecture diagrams, Nodeslate picks a fitting icon as you type a service name, and you can always choose a different one.
Change a box
Click a box to resize it or change its shape or colour. Right-click for cut, copy, paste, align, change shape and delete. Drag on empty space to choose several boxes, Shift+click to add or remove one, and Ctrl/⌘+A to choose everything.
Auto layout or manual
With Auto layout on, Nodeslate arranges boxes as you type. Turn it off to keep every box exactly where you put it: drag boxes anywhere, pull a dot to connect, or pick a shape and draw it.
Draw only
Draw only turns the canvas into a plain drawing board: no typing box, nothing connects or moves by itself, and shapes snap to the grid. Turn it off to type again.
Frames and components
Drop a box inside a big box to keep it there, like a frame. Drag a component to move everything in it, or drop it inside another component.
Try it on the canvasNo account needed.