Software developers who like to quickly capture their ideas using freeform sketches but also need to create formal UML, ERD or wireframe diagrams are the ideal audience for a new tool called DGM. Its developer, Seoul-based MK Labs, is no stranger to visual thinking tools. It also offers StarUML, a software modeling tool, and Frame0, a low-fidelity wireframe application.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Minkyu Lee PhD, the president of MK Labs, about the thinking behind DGM, who it’s designed for and what makes it truly unique.
Chuck Frey: Why did you create DGM? What convinced you that a tool like this needed to exist?
Dr. Minkyu Lee: I’ve always enjoyed visualizing ideas, whether through formal diagrams like UML and ERD or freeform sketches without specific notation. There’s no grand reason behind it—simply a desire to combine two tools I regularly use: StarUML for formal diagrams and Excalidraw for freeform sketches. The motivation to bring these capabilities together is what sparked the DGM project.
Frey: What were your goals in creating it?
Dr. Lee: I didn’t start with a crystal-clear goal. My approach is to begin, evaluate the results along the way, and decide the direction step by step. Initially, my focus was on developing a library that could handle both formal diagrams and freeform sketches. This resulted in DGM.js, which is available under a GPL license at dgmjs.dev. DGM itself is built upon this library.
Frey: What were the limitations of the other tools you tried that you hoped to overcome with DGM?
Dr. Lee: I’ve been an avid user of Excalidraw (a sketching tool for Obsidian), drawn to its simplicity and ease of use. However, I found it cumbersome to create more formal diagrams like UML and ERD within it. While Excalidraw isn’t designed for such purposes, switching between multiple tools can disrupt workflows for users. DGM was created to bridge this gap and provide a unified solution.
Frey: Who is your ideal user, by profession or job title?
Dr. Lee: Developers are likely the primary audience for DGM. It combines Excalidraw’s simplicity with the ability to easily create diagrams that developers frequently need, such as ERD, UML, and wireframes.
Frey: What does DGM help users to accomplish better or faster than before?
Dr. Lee: DGM functions as a whiteboard while also offering a wide range of libraries for creating formal diagrams such as UML, ERD, SysML, wireframes, and C4 models. For users who frequently create these types of diagrams, DGM can significantly speed up their workflows.
Frey: How does DGM differ from other diagramming applications? What makes it unique?
Dr. Lee: DGM embodies the concept of sketchnoting at its core. It combines the freedom of sketching with the structure of formal diagrams, offering a flexible and integrated approach. Additionally, it allows sketches and diagrams to be used as inputs for artificial intelligence. Simple wireframes can be utilized to create web apps, while ERD and UML diagrams can be used to generate database schemas or program code.
Frey: I noticed that DGM enables users to load only the shape libraries they want to use. That makes it easy to customize DGM to your needs, correct?
Dr. Lee: Absolutely. Users can install only the libraries they need, as DGM is a web-based application with libraries installed directly in the browser. They can even create their own custom libraries. While there’s still room for improvement, we’re working on enhancing this feature.
Frey: Do you plan to add more shape libraries to DGM?
Dr. Lee: Yes, definitely. However, we need to prioritize the work at hand. Based on user feedback, we plan to address the most urgent requests first.
Frey: What are some of the most compelling applications of DGM?
Dr. Lee: Since DGM is relatively new, its use cases are still evolving. In a blog post, I introduced three mental models for visualizing ideas: whiteboarding, diagramming, and sketchnoting. DGM aims to support the sketchnoting model, serving as a digital version of a sketchbook that users can carry with them everywhere.
Frey: What are you hearing from users of DGM so far?
Dr. Lee: Since our user base is still small, the feedback has been limited. That said, some engineers have reported replacing Excalidraw with DGM, and several companies have reached out, expressing interest in developing applications using the DGM.js library. Our user base is steadily growing, and I look forward to receiving more feedback.
Frey: I find it quite interesting that you created an application that could support both free-form sketches and formal diagrams. Why include support for both, and where is each most useful?4
Dr. Lee: As I mentioned earlier, this started as a personal desire. But I realized many people would want the same thing. From my years of experience working on UML tools, I’ve learned that most users treat formal diagrams like UML and ERD as simple visual aids. If that’s the case, there’s little distinction between a freeform sketching tool and a formal diagramming tool. By integrating minimal formal diagramming functionality into a sketching tool, users can do everything within a single platform. While this approach might not suit everyone, it fills a niche need.
Frey: What’s next for DGM?
Dr. Lee: There are no specific next steps decided yet. For now, we are focusing on addressing the shortcomings of DGM first. We are working on improving the stability and performance of the library, and in the future, we plan to enhance sharing and live sketching features for team use.
Learn more and try DGM
To learn more about this unique tool and play around with it, visit the DGM website to set up a free account.
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