4 ms·

I love GraphViz. Many are saying the layout isn't that great and there are better options, etc. etc. and I have no doubt that for some use cases, that might be

I love GraphViz. Many are saying the layout isn't that great and there are better options, etc. etc. and I have no doubt that for some use cases, that might be true. However, GraphViz "just works" for me. Every time I build a tree-like structure, I simply open up a new .gv file and just start typing nodes connected with an arrow ("->"). I can do this without taking ANY extra time - I just type it in as I'm developing the structure. When I'm done, I have a very nice diagram. For the more complex ones I add some color or other small details, but often they are simple black and white unidirectional graphs. I keep them open while I work and they help me visually see my structures which helps me see the problem domain more accurately and write better code.

denysvitali 4y ago
Shouldn't the extension be .dot?
- TYMorningCoffee 4y ago
  .gz is already used by gzip[1]. This wiki[2] says it is .gv . I've always used .dot so I don't know what to use anymore. edit: according to this[3] discussion , Microsoft uses .dot. I then found this wiki[4] page that supports the claim. dot is used by Microsoft Word document template files. I will switch to .gv [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_(graph_description_language) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_(graph_description_languag... [3] https://forum.graphviz.org/t/what-is-the-file-extension-for-dot-file/35 https://forum.graphviz.org/t/what-is-the-file-extension-for-... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_filename_extensions_(A%E2%80%93E) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_filename_extensions_(A... [4]
  - ctenb 4y ago
    I've used .dot in the past and stumbled upon issues with git related tools (I believe git diff) interpreting the .dot file as a word related file. I'm using .gv now.
    - tonyarkles 4y ago
      Oh right, back in the day .dot was a template file. .doc = document, .dot = document template.
- nu11ptr 4y ago
  Typo: meant .gv (edited above)

denysvitali 4y ago

Shouldn't the extension be .dot?

TYMorningCoffee 4y ago
.gz is already used by gzip[1]. This wiki[2] says it is .gv . I've always used .dot so I don't know what to use anymore. edit: according to this[3] discussion , Microsoft uses .dot. I then found this wiki[4] page that supports the claim. dot is used by Microsoft Word document template files. I will switch to .gv [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_(graph_description_language) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_(graph_description_languag... [3] https://forum.graphviz.org/t/what-is-the-file-extension-for-dot-file/35 https://forum.graphviz.org/t/what-is-the-file-extension-for-... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_filename_extensions_(A%E2%80%93E) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_filename_extensions_(A... [4]
- ctenb 4y ago
  I've used .dot in the past and stumbled upon issues with git related tools (I believe git diff) interpreting the .dot file as a word related file. I'm using .gv now.
  - tonyarkles 4y ago
    Oh right, back in the day .dot was a template file. .doc = document, .dot = document template.
nu11ptr 4y ago
Typo: meant .gv (edited above)