reaflow

Pros of X6

• More comprehensive and feature-rich, offering a wider range of graph types and customization options
• Better performance for large-scale graphs with thousands of nodes and edges
• Extensive documentation and examples, making it easier for developers to get started

Cons of X6

• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity and extensive API
• Larger bundle size, which may impact load times for web applications
• Less focused on React integration compared to Reaflow

Code Comparison

X6:

import { Graph } from '@antv/x6';

const graph = new Graph({
  container: document.getElementById('container'),
  width: 800,
  height: 600,
});

graph.fromJSON(data);

Reaflow:

import { Canvas, Node, Edge } from 'reaflow';

<Canvas nodes={nodes} edges={edges}>
  {nodes.map((node) => (
    <Node key={node.id} {...node} />
  ))}
  {edges.map((edge) => (
    <Edge key={edge.id} {...edge} />
  ))}
</Canvas>

X6 uses a more imperative approach with a Graph instance, while Reaflow follows a declarative React-style syntax. X6 offers more flexibility but requires more setup, whereas Reaflow provides a simpler, React-centric implementation.

Pros of react-diagrams

• More mature and feature-rich library with a larger community
• Offers advanced features like custom link routing and port management
• Provides a powerful engine for complex diagram interactions

Cons of react-diagrams

• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity
• Heavier bundle size, which may impact performance for simpler use cases
• Less frequent updates and maintenance compared to reaflow

Code Comparison

react-diagrams:

import { DiagramEngine, DiagramModel, DefaultNodeModel } from '@projectstorm/react-diagrams';

const engine = new DiagramEngine();
const model = new DiagramModel();
const node1 = new DefaultNodeModel('Node 1', 'rgb(0,192,255)');
node1.setPosition(100, 100);
model.addNode(node1);

reaflow:

import { Canvas, Node } from 'reaflow';

<Canvas>
  <Node id="1" text="Node 1" />
</Canvas>

Summary

react-diagrams offers more advanced features and flexibility for complex diagram scenarios, while reaflow provides a simpler API and lighter weight solution for basic flowchart needs. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your project and the level of complexity you need to handle.

Pros of xyflow

• More active development with frequent updates and releases
• Larger community and ecosystem, with more examples and third-party resources
• Better TypeScript support and type definitions

Cons of xyflow

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API and features
• Larger bundle size, which may impact performance in some applications

Code Comparison

xyflow:

import ReactFlow from 'reactflow';

const elements = [
  { id: '1', type: 'input', data: { label: 'Node 1' }, position: { x: 250, y: 5 } },
  { id: '2', data: { label: 'Node 2' }, position: { x: 100, y: 100 } },
  { id: 'e1-2', source: '1', target: '2', animated: true },
];

function Flow() {
  return <ReactFlow elements={elements} />;
}

reaflow:

import { Canvas, Node, Edge } from 'reaflow';

const nodes = [
  { id: '1', text: 'Node 1' },
  { id: '2', text: 'Node 2' },
];

const edges = [
  { id: 'e1-2', from: '1', to: '2' },
];

function Flow() {
  return (
    <Canvas nodes={nodes} edges={edges}>
      {nodes.map((node) => (
        <Node key={node.id} {...node} />
      ))}
      {edges.map((edge) => (
        <Edge key={edge.id} {...edge} />
      ))}
    </Canvas>
  );
}

Pros of dagre

• More mature and widely adopted project with a larger community
• Supports a broader range of graph layouts and algorithms
• Better performance for large and complex graphs

Cons of dagre

• Less active development and maintenance in recent years
• Steeper learning curve and more complex API
• Limited built-in interactivity features

Code Comparison

dagre:

var g = new dagre.graphlib.Graph();
g.setNode("a", { label: "A" });
g.setNode("b", { label: "B" });
g.setEdge("a", "b");
dagre.layout(g);

reaflow:

<Canvas
  nodes={[
    { id: "1", text: "Node 1" },
    { id: "2", text: "Node 2" }
  ]}
  edges={[{ id: "1-2", from: "1", to: "2" }]}
/>

reaflow offers a more React-friendly approach with declarative syntax, while dagre provides a lower-level API for graph manipulation and layout. reaflow is better suited for React applications with interactive graph requirements, whereas dagre is more flexible and powerful for complex graph layouts and algorithms across various JavaScript environments.

Pros of Cytoscape.js

• More mature and feature-rich library with extensive documentation
• Supports a wider range of graph types and layouts
• Larger community and ecosystem with numerous extensions

Cons of Cytoscape.js

• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity
• Heavier library size, which may impact performance for simpler use cases
• Less focused on React integration compared to Reaflow

Code Comparison

Reaflow (React-based):

import { Canvas, Node, Edge } from 'reaflow';

<Canvas
  nodes={[{ id: '1' }, { id: '2' }]}
  edges={[{ id: 'e1-2', from: '1', to: '2' }]}
/>

Cytoscape.js (Vanilla JavaScript):

const cy = cytoscape({
  container: document.getElementById('cy'),
  elements: [
    { data: { id: '1' } },
    { data: { id: '2' } },
    { data: { id: 'e1-2', source: '1', target: '2' } }
  ]
});

Both libraries offer powerful graph visualization capabilities, but Reaflow is more tailored for React applications with a simpler API, while Cytoscape.js provides a more comprehensive set of features for complex graph scenarios across various JavaScript environments.

Pros of mxgraph

• More mature and feature-rich library with extensive documentation
• Supports a wider range of graph types and layouts
• Offers both client-side and server-side rendering options

Cons of mxgraph

• Larger file size and potentially slower performance
• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity
• Less modern API and syntax compared to React-based libraries

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();
}

reaflow:

import { Canvas, Node, Edge } from 'reaflow';

const MyGraph = () => (
  <Canvas>
    <Node id="1" text="Hello," x={20} y={20} />
    <Node id="2" text="World!" x={200} y={150} />
    <Edge from="1" to="2" />
  </Canvas>
);