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People often ask me what tools I use to create diagrams for my posts.
Long story short, I draw them manually using:
- http://sketch.io/sketchpad (software)
- Wacom Intuos pen tablet (hardware)
For the long answer, check out the thread
Long story short, I draw them manually using:
- http://sketch.io/sketchpad (software)
- Wacom Intuos pen tablet (hardware)
For the long answer, check out the thread
Both tools are actually pretty simple.
I haven't spent much time researching the available options. Seems like I was lucky enough to stumble upon Sketchpad back in 2019 after 10 minutes of googling.
It just so happened, that my wife ordered the Wacom tablet around the same time
I haven't spent much time researching the available options. Seems like I was lucky enough to stumble upon Sketchpad back in 2019 after 10 minutes of googling.
It just so happened, that my wife ordered the Wacom tablet around the same time
Actually, I should have switched to another sketching software a long time ago. Sketchpad has lots of bugs and I often lose WiP drawings when I forget to save the progress every now and then.
But I have to admit, that since 2019 it improved a lot - both, stability and UX.
But I have to admit, that since 2019 it improved a lot - both, stability and UX.
I'm also thinking of buying one of these fancy iPads because I think drawing with Apple Pencil could be much more efficient.
My problem with the Wacom tablet is that the UX is too different from the regular drawing on paper - I have to look at the laptop screen and not at my pen
My problem with the Wacom tablet is that the UX is too different from the regular drawing on paper - I have to look at the laptop screen and not at my pen
Tools are important, but what's even more important is time.
On average, I spend several hours drawing diagrams for a post.
For more complex diagrams, I often re-do them multiple times because I don't like the layout, the focus, or even the content I picked.
On average, I spend several hours drawing diagrams for a post.
For more complex diagrams, I often re-do them multiple times because I don't like the layout, the focus, or even the content I picked.
For instance, this "Kubernetes API structure" diagram took around 10 hours of my time.
"Kubernetes Operator Example" GIF showing the workflow of @inletsdev operator - around 20 hours.
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/kubernetes-operator-pattern/
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/kubernetes-operator-pattern/
Diagrams for "Service proxy, pod, sidecar, oh my!" post - 5 hours.
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/service-proxy-pod-sidecar-oh-my/
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/service-proxy-pod-sidecar-oh-my/
My style also evolved over time:
- I discovered a bunch of colors that in my opinion work well
- Switched from handwriting to a handwriting-like font
- Striving to keep layouts balanced.
Overall, my drawings between posts became more consistent.
- I discovered a bunch of colors that in my opinion work well
- Switched from handwriting to a handwriting-like font
- Striving to keep layouts balanced.
Overall, my drawings between posts became more consistent.
Example of some "early days" diagrams:
"conman - [the] container manager: inception"
- no colors
- clumsy handwriting
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/conman-the-container-manager-inception/
![Example of some "early days" diagrams:"conman - [the] container manager: inception"- no colors- clumsy handwriting https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/conman-the-container-manager-inception/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtKSLVbXIAMkWJZ.jpg "Example of some \"early days\" diagrams:\"conman - [the] container manager: inception\"- no colors- clumsy handwriting https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/conman-the-container-manager-inception/")
"conman - [the] container manager: inception"
- no colors
- clumsy handwriting
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/conman-the-container-manager-inception/
Another example of a rather failed drawing:
"Node.js Readable streams distilled"
- boring fonts and colors
- oversized
- imbalanced
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/nodejs-readable-streams-distilled/
"Node.js Readable streams distilled"
- boring fonts and colors
- oversized
- imbalanced
https://iximiuz.com/en/posts/nodejs-readable-streams-distilled/
