Pros of dagre

• Lightweight and focused on graph layout algorithms
• Easier to integrate with other JavaScript libraries
• Better performance for large graphs with many nodes

Cons of dagre

• Limited built-in UI components and interactivity features
• Less comprehensive documentation and examples
• Smaller community and fewer updates compared to mxGraph

Code Comparison

mxGraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Hello,', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'World!', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

dagre:

var g = new dagre.graphlib.Graph();
g.setNode("kspacey", { label: "Kevin Spacey", width: 144, height: 100 });
g.setNode("swilliams", { label: "Saul Williams", width: 160, height: 100 });
g.setEdge("kspacey", "swilliams");
dagre.layout(g);

Pros of G6

• More modern and actively maintained, with frequent updates and new features
• Better performance for large-scale graph rendering and interactions
• Rich set of built-in layouts and customizable algorithms

Cons of G6

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API and configuration options
• Less comprehensive documentation and examples compared to mxGraph
• Smaller community and ecosystem, potentially leading to fewer third-party resources

Code Comparison

mxGraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Hello', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'World!', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

G6:

const graph = new G6.Graph({
  container: 'mountNode',
  width: 800,
  height: 600,
});
const data = {
  nodes: [
    { id: 'node1', x: 100, y: 200, label: 'Hello' },
    { id: 'node2', x: 300, y: 200, label: 'World!' },
  ],
  edges: [{ source: 'node1', target: 'node2' }],
};
graph.data(data);
graph.render();

Pros of Cytoscape.js

• More lightweight and faster rendering for large graphs
• Extensive plugin ecosystem for additional functionality
• Better support for mobile and touch devices

Cons of Cytoscape.js

• Less comprehensive built-in features compared to mxGraph
• Steeper learning curve for complex graph manipulations
• Limited out-of-the-box support for certain diagram types (e.g., flowcharts)

Code Comparison

mxGraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Hello,', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'World!', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

Cytoscape.js:

var cy = cytoscape({
  container: document.getElementById('cy'),
  elements: [
    { data: { id: 'a', label: 'Hello,' } },
    { data: { id: 'b', label: 'World!' } },
    { data: { id: 'ab', source: 'a', target: 'b' } }
  ],
  style: [
    { selector: 'node', style: { 'label': 'data(label)' } }
  ]
});

Pros of vis-network

• Lightweight and fast, especially for large datasets
• Extensive documentation and examples
• Supports both 2D and 3D network visualization

Cons of vis-network

• Less feature-rich compared to mxgraph
• Limited built-in shape options for nodes
• Steeper learning curve for complex customizations

Code Comparison

vis-network:

var nodes = new vis.DataSet([
  {id: 1, label: 'Node 1'},
  {id: 2, label: 'Node 2'}
]);
var edges = new vis.DataSet([
  {from: 1, to: 2}
]);
var container = document.getElementById('mynetwork');
var data = {nodes: nodes, edges: edges};
var options = {};
var network = new vis.Network(container, data, options);

mxgraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Node 1', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Node 2', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

Both libraries offer ways to create and manipulate graph structures, but mxgraph provides more low-level control over the graph elements and their behavior.

Pros of vis

• More lightweight and focused on data visualization
• Easier to learn and implement for simple graph and network visualizations
• Better performance for large datasets and dynamic updates

Cons of vis

• Less comprehensive feature set for advanced graph editing and manipulation
• Limited built-in layout algorithms compared to mxGraph
• Smaller community and fewer extensions/plugins available

Code Comparison

vis:

var nodes = new vis.DataSet([
  {id: 1, label: 'Node 1'},
  {id: 2, label: 'Node 2'}
]);
var edges = new vis.DataSet([
  {from: 1, to: 2}
]);
var network = new vis.Network(container, {nodes: nodes, edges: edges}, options);

mxGraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Node 1', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Node 2', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

Both libraries offer ways to create and manipulate graphs, but vis focuses on simplicity and ease of use, while mxGraph provides more control and advanced features for complex graph applications.

Pros of react-diagrams

• Built specifically for React, offering seamless integration with React applications
• More modern and actively maintained, with regular updates and improvements
• Lightweight and focused on diagram creation, making it easier to learn and implement

Cons of react-diagrams

• Less feature-rich compared to mxgraph, which offers a wider range of diagram types and functionalities
• Smaller community and ecosystem, potentially leading to fewer resources and third-party extensions
• May require more custom development for complex diagram requirements

Code Comparison

mxgraph:

var graph = new mxGraph(container);
var parent = graph.getDefaultParent();
graph.getModel().beginUpdate();
try {
  var v1 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'Hello,', 20, 20, 80, 30);
  var v2 = graph.insertVertex(parent, null, 'World!', 200, 150, 80, 30);
  var e1 = graph.insertEdge(parent, null, '', v1, v2);
} finally {
  graph.getModel().endUpdate();
}

react-diagrams:

const engine = new DiagramEngine();
const node1 = new DefaultNodeModel('Hello,', 'rgb(0,192,255)');
node1.setPosition(100, 100);
const node2 = new DefaultNodeModel('World!', 'rgb(192,255,0)');
node2.setPosition(400, 100);
const link = node1.getPort('out').link(node2.getPort('in'));
engine.getModel().addAll(node1, node2, link);