In my casual experience with such systems, they are extremely limited compared to something like Max, which is in turn extremely limited and badly designed. Ma

In my casual experience with such systems, they are extremely limited compared to something like Max, which is in turn extremely limited and badly designed. Max is not just 'click and drag' – you can do quite complex configuration, cross-modulation of signals and parameters, etc. plus general purpose programming. You can also script things with JavaScript or Lua and write new routines ("objects") in C, Java, languages that compile to Java, and JavaScript. They key is that the dataflow environment specifies a strict interface between "objects" and an overall execution pattern, but you can dig in to the stuff you're clicking on and change/optimize the underlying code. Recently Cycling '74 (who make Max) added a new lower-level dataflow language that maps to C code or alternately GLSL shaders, which makes it super easy for people who don't know how to program to write efficient, auto-optimized audio and graphics routines. Another system along those lines is Faust: http://faust.grame.fr/ http://faust.grame.fr/. For a more open-ended system that combines dataflow ideas with traditional programming concepts, a time-line editor, and in-text GUI controls, check out Field: http://www.openendedgroup.com/field/ http://www.openendedgroup.com/field/. DRAKON looks like a naive low-level attempt at sticking imperative routines into flowcharts. Diagrammed UML systems sound awful – you probably lose all the power of object oriented programming by transposing it into a GUI. Signal chain diagram languages like MATLAB's SIMULINK[1], Analog Devices' Signal Chain Designer[2], or Cypress' PSoC Designer are usually very basic and nothing like what a proper dataflow system could be. [1] http://www.mathworks.com/products/simulink/ http://www.mathworks.com/products/simulink/ [2] http://www.analog.com/en/content/Signal_Chain_Designer/fca.html http://www.analog.com/en/content/Signal_Chain_Designer/fca.h... [3] http://www.cypress.com/?id=2492&source=productshome http://www.cypress.com/?id=2492&source=productshome