Generating UML Diagrams in IntelliJ IDEA with PlantUML Plugin

Takahiro Iwasa

Feb 8, 2017

2 min read

IntelliJ IDEA PlantUML

Generating UML diagrams can greatly enhance your software design process. With IntelliJ IDEA and the PlantUML Integration, you can create and manage diagrams efficiently using a simple text-based DSL. This text-based approach allows seamless integration with version control systems like Git.

Ensure the following software is installed and configured:

To get started, create a file with a .puml extension. Begin coding your UML diagram, and the plugin will immediately render it in the IDE.

Here is a simple example:

@startuml

interface Person
abstract Employee

interface Person {
    + string getName();
}

class Employee {
    - string name;
    --
    + string getName();
    + string getEmployeeId();
}

Person <|-- Employee

@enduml

This code produces a UML diagram showcasing a Person interface and an Employee class. For more details about PlantUML DSL, refer to the official PlantUML website.

• Text-based simplicity: Manage UML diagrams as code, making them easy to track and version.
• Integration with Git: Effortlessly manage changes and collaborate with others.
• Immediate feedback: Visualize diagrams instantly as you type.

PlantUML is a powerful yet simple tool for generating UML diagrams in small- to mid-sized applications. Its text-based format, combined with tools like IntelliJ IDEA and Graphviz, makes it an excellent choice for developers looking for an efficient and version-controlled workflow.

Happy Coding! 🚀