Diagrams as Code With PlantUML
Write UML, sequence and architecture diagrams in a readable text syntax.
Run plantuml diagram.puml to render the description to an image.
01Command
Command
$ plantuml diagram.puml02What it does
PlantUML understands a concise syntax for class, sequence, activity, component and deployment diagrams, and outputs PNG or SVG. Because it is text, diagrams can be diffed and generated in documentation pipelines.
03Risk
!Warning: It needs a Java runtime and Graphviz for some diagram types; missing dependencies cause silent layout failures.
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- Debian package: plantumlEvidence: Debian packages PlantUML, which renders UML and other diagrams from text.
- PlantUMLEvidence: Debian packages PlantUML, which renders UML and other diagrams from text.
Last verified: 2026-09-22 · Category: Developer