What is DrawMotive?

DrawMotive is a collaborative diagramming tool that lets teams create, edit, and share diagrams in real time. Built with an offline-first architecture, it works reliably with or without an internet connection and integrates directly into tools your team already uses, like Confluence and VS Code.

Key Capabilities

Real-Time Collaboration

Multiple team members can edit the same diagram simultaneously. DrawMotive uses Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) to merge changes automatically without a central coordinator. Every edit is applied locally first — so the interface always feels responsive — then synchronized in the background.

Offline-First Design

All editing operations work offline by default. Changes are saved locally to your browser's IndexedDB storage and synchronized when you reconnect. You never lose work due to network issues, and there's no waiting for server round-trips.

Constraint-Based Drawing

DrawMotive includes a geometric constraint solver inspired by CAD tools. You can specify that lines must be parallel, circles must be concentric, or a line must have a specific length. When you move one element, all constrained elements adjust automatically to maintain your design intent.

Four-Layer Rendering

The canvas uses a layered architecture for clean separation of concerns:

• Background — Grid lines, guides, and reference images
• Graphics — Your drawing content: lines, rectangles, circles, text, and connectors
• Transient — Temporary elements like selection rectangles and previews during drawing
• Grip — Interactive handles for resizing, rotating, and connecting shapes

Export and Sharing

Export diagrams as PNG, SVG, or PDF. Generate shareable links or embed diagrams directly in Confluence pages and other platforms.

Use Cases

• Software architecture diagrams — Map out system components, APIs, and data flows
• Network topology — Document infrastructure layouts and connections
• Flowcharts and workflows — Visualize processes and decision trees
• Wireframes — Sketch UI layouts for design reviews
• Technical documentation — Embed diagrams alongside your docs in Confluence or VS Code

Platform Support

Platform	Status
Web app	Available
Confluence Cloud	Available
VS Code	Available
Google Docs	Coming soon
Microsoft 365	Coming soon
Notion	Coming soon

Technology

DrawMotive runs as a Progressive Web App (PWA) using Blazor WebAssembly, which means the full editor executes in your browser. Rendering is powered by SkiaSharp on HTML5 Canvas, providing consistent output across platforms. The server acts as a sync relay — not a dependency — so your work is always available locally.