GoKawiilNew tool Reladraw lets users define diagrams via relative positioning, not coordinates
Reladraw is a newly released text-based diagramming language that lets users specify layouts by describing relative positions between elements—like 'above-left of' or 'right of'—rather than fixed coordinates or auto-generated layouts. It includes a browser-based editor where users edit source text on one side and see the rendered diagram update on the other, with no installation required. The project's syntax and an example architecture diagram are documented in its repository.
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The creator positions Reladraw as filling a gap between auto-layout tools like Mermaid and Graphviz, which don't allow precise placement control, and absolute-positioning tools like draw.io or Figma, which make edits slow and costly, especially for AI agents that must reverse-engineer coordinate-based diagrams before editing them. This suggests a potential niche for text-based diagram tools optimized for iterative, agent-assisted editing rather than one-time human drawing.
- Reladraw uses relative positioning statements instead of coordinates or auto-layout to define diagrams
- A browser-based live editor lets users edit diagram source and see layout changes in real time
- The tool targets a middle ground between auto-layout languages and absolute-positioning design tools, aiming to ease agent-driven diagram edits
Source: github.com, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “Show HN: Reladraw – A diagram language where you decide where to place things”
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