draw.io Desktop

draw.io Desktop is an offline diagram editor from draw.io, wrapping the core editor in a packaged Electron application. It suits people documenting systems, processes and ideas through flowcharts, network diagrams, UML, organization charts and related visual models. This Cask installs the desktop app, distinct from the browser editor and integrations for Atlassian or other platforms.

Features

• Create diagrams with shape libraries, connectors, labels and formatting controls.
• Organize multiple pages, layers and custom libraries in editable diagram files.
• Import supported diagram formats and use Mermaid/CSV workflows where supported.
• Export images, SVG and PDF, including options to preserve editable diagram data.
• Work offline with files on your device; a synced local folder is managed by your separate sync service.
• Use command-line export and rendering options supplied by the desktop executable.

Install and start

Install brew install --cask drawio, or download the official Mac DMG matching Apple Silicon/Intel (a universal DMG is also published), open it and copy draw.io.app to Applications. Launch it, create or open a diagram, select shapes/connectors and save your editable file. Choose the export format needed by recipients; a flat image is not equivalent to the editable source unless diagram data is embedded with the relevant option.

The Cask supplies a drawio command wrapper for the application's executable. Consult its help for export parameters. From32.3.0, Mac updates can download in the background and offer a restart notice, or install on quitting; preferences control automatic checks. Updating from31.7.0 still uses the previous mechanism for that first transition. Homebrew and in-app updates are separate distribution management paths.

Systems and dependencies

The current Cask requires macOS13+, selecting arm64 or x64 packages for Apple Silicon and Intel. Official desktop releases also publish Windows x64, native Windows11 ARM64, and Linux deb/rpm/AppImage builds, with architecture and installer differences. The Mac Cask does not install Windows/Linux builds. No official native iOS/Android desktop distribution or fixed RAM minimum was confirmed in the retrieved release/README material; browser use is a separate product. Numeric Linux distribution minima and Windows x64 minimum should be checked against the current runtime/package rather than inferred from an old release.

Electron and editor resources are packaged; a separate Node.js/npm/Electron installation is not required to run the distributed app. Those tools are source-development dependencies. The Cask declares no additional formula dependency or explicit package conflict. Optional external libraries, fonts/images and application integrations can introduce network access and their own requirements.

The current Linux AppImage uses a static runtime and no longer requires legacy libfuse2. The official README warns AppImageLauncher2.2.0 cannot handle that runtime; use its compatible3.0 release or run the AppImage without that manager. This is a Linux packaging consideration, not a Mac dependency.

The official Apple Silicon32.3.0 DMG is156,569,818 bytes according to GitHub asset metadata. Installed resources, diagrams and caches need additional space. Different architectures and universal packages have different download sizes.

Offline behavior and data

Core diagram creation and local file storage need no cloud account or internet connection. The desktop README states diagram content and usage analytics are not transmitted, while update checks contact GitHub. Diagrams can reference remote images, backgrounds or fonts: opening them can request those URLs and expose connection metadata such as your IP address. Offline therefore does not mean every externally referenced asset is guaranteed to render without a network.

Desktop does not include the browser editor's cloud-storage integrations; placing files in an independently synchronized folder remains possible. Some online-only capabilities are unavailable. Homebrew zap removes local application support, preferences, caches, logs and saved state; preserve configuration and any local data you need before deep cleanup. Your chosen document files should be backed up independently.

Accounts, price and licensing

The desktop app is free to use, including business use, without a required account or subscription for local editing. Its current32.3.0 package declares GPL-3.0-only and ships GPLv3 license text; this differs from older desktop licenses and the Apache2.0 core-editor source. Redistribution/modification must follow the applicable component licenses and notices. Shape/icon libraries and referenced media can have separate rights. Published-app terms also apply where relevant.

Paid draw.io integrations for Confluence/Jira are separate products and do not turn this desktop client into a paid subscription; their purchase does not grant contracted desktop support. The desktop repository provides issue-based support without a guaranteed service contract.

Official references

• Product: https://www.drawio.com/
• Desktop source, README, license and releases: https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop
• Offline behavior: https://www.drawio.com/docs/security/diagrams-offline/
• Publisher and terms: https://www.drawio.com/docs/about/ and https://www.drawio.com/trust/terms-of-use/