Create and collaborate online diagrams with Cacoo

Posted on January 10, 2010 | Category: Browsers, Chrome, Code, Firefox, Flash, IE, Images, Informational, Networking, Resources, Reviews, Safari, Web Applications

Cacoo is a Flash 10 based web applications service that allows you to create and collaborate a wide variety of diagrams. You can create basic geometric shapes, line drawings, or more complicated diagrams using UML, Wireframes, or choose from a variety of equipment. If you have the need to collaborate with someone on a diagram, you can do so real-time, just like in Google Docs. Just click the Share tab on the top right-hand side of the screen. There is even a Chat dialog feature that you can choose! Another one of the great features in Cacoo is the ability to work on multiple diagrams at once. Look at the bottom-left of the screen and you will notice a multiple tabbed environment waiting for the taking.

Chat dialog opened up

Cacoo – Real-time Collaborative Diagramming & Design from Nulab Inc. on Vimeo.

Once you have opened a diagram, it is given a static url for others to view your creation or as a means to share and collaborate. Diagrams are only made public by your preference. Visit my first diagram on Cacoo here https://cacoo.com/diagrams/VSSbWxR1pBJBaz0D.

Cacoo is compatible with IE 7+, Safari 4+, Firefox 3+, and Chrome 2+, but may not work with older browsers. Cacoo uses Flash 10, like I mentioned above, so older browsers probably will not play nicely with Flash or Cacoo.

Conclusions

Cacoo is a completely functional diagram editor that should help you at home and at work. Their is a simple and well designed dashboard to view the various Diagrams that you and others create.

Dashboard for your diagrams

I use Smart Draw at work and find that many of the basic flow charts that I create could easily be accomplished using this application. I am seeing those major licensing fees go away! There are about a dozen different categories to choose your media from. The categories tailor themselves to the office or professional environment, which makes me believe that a paid package will be available very soon. As posted on their FAQ page, a premium plan will be available in mid 2010. No further details are provided.

Cacoo functions on a variety web browsers to include Chrome, IE, Safari, and Firefox. However, the Flash movements in Linux Chrome were not as smooth as they were in Linux Firefox. I generally find this to be true in most applications when Chrome is used. The Firefox movements in v.3.5 of the browser were crisp and easy to work with.

I did receive one error when opening up a diagram for editing. I reported the error and tried again without incident.

Error screen after opening up a diagram for editing

Overall, Cacoo is a sock solid platform for creating diagrams for your home or small business. I love the easy to use interface and simple controls layout. I strongly recommend this application to anyone that creates or would like to enhance they skills in diagram creation.

One Response to “Create and collaborate online diagrams with Cacoo”

Buckycomputing.net » Cacoo Code Companies Flash Informational Resources Updates » Cacoo upgrades Says:
January 17th, 2010 at 9:47 am
[...] is a free online diagram creation and collaboration web app based out of Japan. Since posting my original review a little over a week ago, Cacoo has rolled out a few changes to their online diagram editing application. New features [...]