Gleek

Text-to-diagram tool that builds UML, ERD and flowcharts from typed syntax

Intermediate
Screenshot of Gleek, Text-to-diagram tool that builds UML, ERD and flowcharts from typed syntax

What is Gleek?

Gleek converts short text descriptions into flowcharts, ER diagrams, four UML diagram types, Gantt charts and user journey diagrams. A keyboard-first tool aimed at developers and database designers, with templates, export options, live collaboration and text-friendly version control.

Gleek is a diagramming tool built around a single idea: the keyboard should be enough. Instead of dragging shapes around a canvas, you type a short description in Gleek's own syntax and the tool renders it as a structured diagram. The homepage positions this as a conceptualization suite rather than a drawing app, aimed at people who already think in text and resent the mouse work that diagramming usually demands. The diagram types are developer leaning. Flowcharts cover step-by-step processes with tasks and decision points. Entity-relationship diagrams handle database design at the conceptual level, with a choice between Chen and Crow's foot notation. Four UML formats are supported: class diagrams for classes, attributes, methods and their relationships, sequence diagrams for how parts of a system interact over time, state machine diagrams for an object's lifecycle and the events that shift it, and object diagrams for real world instances. Gantt charts and user journey diagrams round out the set for project scheduling and product research. In practice the workflow is write, render, refine. A description goes in, a diagram comes out, and you edit the text to change the result. Gleek emphasises that the syntax is quick to pick up, and that source text behaves better than binary files for version control. Other listed capabilities include live collaboration for planning and finalising ideas as a group, export to several formats, pre-designed templates for common use cases, and visual customisation so the output reflects the diagram's purpose. Who it suits: software engineers, database designers, architects and product people who document systems and processes regularly. Anyone who mostly needs freeform visual canvases with pixel placement will find the text-first model constraining. Gleek sits in the same territory as code-based diagram tools such as Mermaid and PlantUML, differentiated by its own syntax and a browser editor with collaboration built in.

How do you use Gleek?

  1. 1Open the free starter workspace
    The homepage invitation goes straight to a working diagram so you can try the syntax before making an account. Use it to type a first description and see the rendered result.
  2. 2Pick the diagram type you need
    Each type has its own create link. Flowcharts and object diagrams start from the basic editor, while ER, class, sequence, state, Gantt and user journey diagrams each open a dedicated workspace.
  3. 3Write the description in Gleek syntax
    Type entities, relationships, steps or states in the short syntax rather than drawing shapes. The diagram redraws as the description changes.
  4. 4Apply a template or adjust the look
    Pre-designed templates cover common use cases and can save the first draft. Customisation options change the visual style so the diagram reads the way you intend.
  5. 5Collaborate and export
    Invite others to plan and finalise the diagram together, then export it in the format your documentation or presentation needs.
  6. 6Log in to keep your work
    Returning users sign in through the login page to reach saved diagrams and continue editing.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Covers eight diagram types, including ERD with Chen or Crow's foot notation and four UML formatsAI
  • Keyboard-only workflow suits developers who prefer text over canvas draggingAI
  • Diagram source lives as text, which the site presents as a cleaner fit for version control than binary filesAI
  • Live collaboration lets a team plan and finalise diagrams together in the same workspaceAI
  • Pre-designed templates shorten the path for common diagramming use casesAI

Cons

  • Requires learning a tool-specific syntax, which is extra overhead for anyone already fluent in PlantUML or MermaidAI
  • Positioned as informal diagrams, so it is not a precise layout tool for pixel-level visual polishAI
  • No native integrations are stated on the homepage, so teams relying on tool chaining should verify fit firstAI
  • Gantt charts and user journeys sit outside core engineering work, making the wider suite uneven for a single userAI
  • Homepage does not publish pricing numbers or plan limits, so cost needs checking directlyAI

How much does Gleek cost?

Features

Eight diagram types: flowcharts, entity-relationship diagrams (Chen or Crow's foot), UML class, sequence, state machine and object diagrams, Gantt charts and user journey diagrams. Text-to-diagram syntax, keyboard-only editing, text-friendly version control, live collaboration, diagram export, pre-designed templates and visual customisation.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about Gleek

  • How do you use Gleek?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Open the free starter workspace 2. Pick the diagram type you need 3. Write the description in Gleek syntax 4. Apply a template or adjust the look 5. Collaborate and export 6. Log in to keep your work.
  • What platforms does Gleek support?
    Gleek is available on Web App.
  • What are the limitations of Gleek?
    Requires learning a tool-specific syntax, which is extra overhead for anyone already fluent in PlantUML or Mermaid. Positioned as informal diagrams, so it is not a precise layout tool for pixel-level visual polish. No native integrations are stated on the homepage, so teams relying on tool chaining should verify fit first.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web App

Pricing

Freemium