I’m reading through Miro Samek’s book about UML Statecharts in C/C++ and I really like how clean and professional the state diagrams look. The formatting and layout of the statechart diagrams throughout the book is really well done. Does anyone know what drawing software or diagramming tool the author used to create these visual representations? I’m working on my own state machine documentation and would love to achieve a similar quality and style for my diagrams. The statecharts have a very consistent look with nice formatting, clean lines, and proper UML notation. If you check out the sample diagrams from the book, you can see what I mean about the professional appearance. Any ideas about the specific software package or tool that was used?
i think he might have used Rational Rose or maybe Enterprise Architect. those were pretty popular tools for UML back in the early 2000s. the diagrams have that enterprise vibe, def not something you’d whip up in a basic app.
Based on my observations of Miro Samek’s UML Statecharts book, it’s highly likely that he utilized a professional diagramming tool such as Microsoft Visio or a similar application, which was favored during the time of the book’s publication. The diagrams exhibit precise vector graphics and adhere to UML notation, indicating a sophisticated tool rather than a basic one. Having worked on technical documentation myself, I found Visio to be the standard for creating UML diagrams at that time. For a modern approach, tools like Lucidchart and draw.io can help achieve similar quality and aesthetics, although Visio remains a solid choice for UML if accessible.
Samek probably used a mix of specialized UML tools that were popular when the book came out. The diagrams look like they came from industry-standard software like IBM Rational Rose or Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect - both were go-to choices for professional UML modeling back then. These tools create clean, standardized diagrams with proper shapes and consistent styling. But you can definitely get the same quality today with modern alternatives. Just focus on finding software that’s precise with element positioning and follows proper UML state diagram notation. Don’t worry about copying his exact toolset.
I actually emailed Miro Samek about this a few years back when my embedded systems diagrams looked terrible. He said he uses a mix of tools, but the real secret isn’t the software - it’s sticking to UML standards and keeping everything consistent. Most of his diagrams come from CAD-style tools that let you control line weights, spacing, and fonts precisely. That professional look you’re seeing? It’s all about those details, not some magic program. Want to copy his style? Set up a template first with consistent fonts, line thickness, and spacing. Don’t stress about which software until you’ve got that down.
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