excalidraw open source analysis

Virtual whiteboard for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams

Project overview

⭐ 111560 · TypeScript · Last activity on GitHub: 2025-11-29

GitHub: https://github.com/excalidraw/excalidraw

Why it matters for engineering teams

Excalidraw addresses the need for a simple yet effective virtual whiteboard that enables software engineers to sketch hand-drawn style diagrams collaboratively. It is particularly useful for engineering teams involved in design discussions, architecture planning, and documentation where visual communication is key. The project is mature and reliable enough for production use, offering a stable and intuitive interface that integrates well into existing workflows. It suits roles such as software architects, product managers, and developers who require a quick way to visualise ideas without complex tooling. However, it may not be the right choice for teams needing advanced diagramming features or highly customisable graphics, where specialised paid tools might be more appropriate.

When to use this project

Excalidraw is a strong choice when teams want an open source tool for engineering teams that supports real-time collaboration and simple diagramming. Consider alternatives if your project requires detailed technical diagrams or extensive shape libraries that go beyond basic sketching.

Team fit and typical use cases

Software architects and developers benefit most from Excalidraw as a production ready solution for creating and sharing visual ideas during design reviews and sprint planning. It is often used in product teams to quickly draft workflows, system diagrams, and whiteboard sessions. The self hosted option for Excalidraw makes it suitable for organisations prioritising data privacy and internal collaboration.

Topics and ecosystem

canvas collaboration diagrams drawing hacktoberfest productivity whiteboard

Activity and freshness

Latest commit on GitHub: 2025-11-29. Activity data is based on repeated RepoPi snapshots of the GitHub repository. It gives a quick, factual view of how alive the project is.