Minimal, Lightweight Non-Java F/OSS Mind Mapping Suggestions?

September 19, 2018 8:30 PM

Looking for recommendations for some very simple F/OSS mind-mapping software. Absolutely not Java, because reasons. It doesn't have to have every feature under the sun, I simply want to make a few circles/oblongs and drag around a few coloured lines round between them plus any words input. Ability to export to .txt is absolutely fine (.csv a bonus). Really simple, doesn't have to be a big project or even currently maintained but would like recommendations from people who've used the software they're suggesting so I know it's functional! Platform: Windows 7
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

draw.io is an online tool for drawing lots of different types of diagrams. I'm sure you can adapt it to your needs.
posted by axiom at 9:15 PM on September 19, 2018 [4 favorites]

Mindmeister is one i’ve used in the past. Online, has a decent free tier but also paid upgrades.
posted by cgg at 12:30 AM on September 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

make a few circles/oblongs and drag around a few coloured lines round between them plus any words input

Inkscape can do that.
posted by flabdablet at 4:40 AM on September 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

Draw.io will be a little easier to jump in to, and I think it is a little better suited to this, though I do love Inkscape as well.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 AM on September 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

another online one: MindMup. Limited free use (although I think free unlimited Google Drive storage is possible). Great for splatting out outlines (you can do almost all creation tasks with just tab and return). I haven't used the new-new version, but used to make pretty PDFs easily. Export was basic tab-separated text.

I managed to infect an entire former employer with it. I'm told they still use it everywhere.
posted by scruss at 8:43 AM on September 20, 2018 [1 favorite]