Open Source Swift Library to Create UML Class Diagram
A Powerful Open Source Swift Library allows Software Developers to Generate UML Class Diagrams from Swift Source Code. Developers can Customize the Output Diagram and Visualize Code Architecture.
What is SwiftPlantUML?
In the fast-paced world of software development, maintaining a clear understanding of your app’s architecture is critical. As projects grow in complexity, visualizing relationships between classes, protocols, and other components becomes essential. Software developers often rely on UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams to visualize and document their code structure. SwiftPlantUML is an open-source library that automates the generation of UML class diagrams from Swift code, making it an essential tool for Swift developers. It is a powerful library that generates PlantUML scripts from Swift code. PlantUML is a text-based tool for creating UML diagrams, including class diagrams, sequence diagrams, and more.
Developed by Marco Eidinger, SwiftPlantUML allows developers to generate UML diagrams directly from Swift code, making it easier to document and visualize the structure of Swift projects. SwiftPlantUML provides customization options to tailor the generated UML diagrams according to specific needs. Developers can exclude certain classes, adjust the layout, or filter specific elements. It extracts class structures and relationships from Swift code and generates UML diagrams automatically. With its support for a wide range of Swift types, customizable output, and seamless integration with Xcode, SwiftPlantUML is an invaluable addition to any Swift developer’s toolkit.
Getting Started with SwiftPlantUML
The recommend way to SwiftPlantUML library is using Homebrew. Please use the following command for a smooth installation.
Install SwiftPlantUML via Homebrew
brew install swiftplantumlInstall SwiftPlantUML via Mint
$ mint install MarcoEidinger/SwiftPlantUMLConvert Swift Code to UML Diagrams
Once installed, you can use SwiftPlantUML to generate PlantUML scripts from your Swift code. Instead of manually creating diagrams, the open source SwiftPlantUML library extracts class structures and relationships from Swift code and generates UML diagrams automatically without any external dependencies. The following example shows how developers can generates a PlantUML script from the give code that represents the relationships between the User, Admin, and Authenticatable types. The output can be rendered into a UML diagram using a PlantUML editor.
How to Generate PlantUML Script from the Given Code via Swift API?
import SwiftPlantUML
class User {
var name: String
var email: String
init(name: String, email: String) {
self.name = name
self.email = email
}
}
class Admin: User {
func managePermissions() {
print("Managing permissions...")
}
}
protocol Authenticatable {
func login()
func logout()
}
extension Admin: Authenticatable {
func login() {
print("Admin logged in")
}
func logout() {
print("Admin logged out")
}
}
let generator = PlantUMLGenerator()
let plantUMLScript = generator.generate(from: User.self)
print(plantUMLScript)
Customizable Output Support
The SwiftPlantUML library allows software developers to customize the generated PlantUML scripts to suit their needs. Developers can include or exclude specific types, modify relationships, and adjust the diagram layout inside Swift applications. The following example shows how users can exclude the Animal class from the generated diagram using Swift library.
How to Exclude a Particular Class from the Generated Diagram using Swift API?
let options = PlantUMLOptions(exclude: ["Animal"])
let generator = PlantUMLGenerator(options: options)
let plantUMLScript = generator.generate(from: MySwiftClass.self)
Visualize Code Architecture
Visualize Code Architecture & Collaboration
Understanding the relationships between classes, protocols, and structs is crucial for building scalable apps. The open source SwiftPlantUML library makes it easy to generate UML diagrams that provide a clear visual representation of your app’s architecture, making it easier to identify potential issues and optimize design. Visual diagrams make it easier for teams to communicate and collaborate. By sharing UML diagrams, developers can quickly align on design decisions and identify areas for improvement.