DRAKON (Дракон) is a visual language for creating algorithmic flowcharts, developed in the 1980s by engineer Vladimir Parondzhanov and his team. DRAKON is better than standard flowcharts techniques, particularly for designing applications.
Some advantages of implementing DRAKON Flowcharts
1
Standardized Structure
DRAKON enforces a more rigid structure than traditional flowcharts, reducing ambiguity. It does so using the "skewer" component (main vertical line) that clearly shows the primary flow of control.
Standardized Structure
2
Improved Readability
DRAKON diagrams are designed to be read top-to-bottom, left-to-right, mimicking natural reading patterns. The "silhouette" principle is what allows viewers to grasp the overall structure of the algorithm quickly.
Improved Readability
3
Reduced Cognitive Load
Standardized icons and layouts make it easier to understand complex algorithms at a glance. This consistency across the diagrams reduces the learning curve for new team members.
Reduced Cognitive Load
4
Error Reduction
Strict rules for diagram construction help prevent logical errors common in traditional flowcharts. The visual structure makes it harder to create infinite loops or unreachable code.
Error Reduction
5
Scalability
DRAKON's hierarchical structure allows for better representation of complex systems. The "silhouette" component's branches can encapsulate entire sub-processes, allowing for both high-level and detailed views.
Scalability
6
Branching Clarity
DRAKON's representation of conditional statements and loops is clearer than in traditional flowcharts. The visual structure makes it easier to trace all possible paths through the algorithm.
Branching Clarity
7
Cross-disciplinary Communication
DRAKON's clarity makes it useful for communicating algorithms to non-technical stakeholders. This can improve collaboration between developers, managers, and domain experts.
Cross-disciplinary Communication
8
Maintenance and Updates
The structured nature of DRAKON diagrams makes it easier to locate areas needing modification. These changes and modifications to the algorithm are more likely to be understood by the entire team.
Tools & platforms where DRAKON Flowcharts can be implemented
We recommend using DrakonHub as it has been specifically designed for DRAKON, others are more general diagramming tools that can be adapted to create DRAKON-style charts.
Cruise Accelerator's components were specifically developed for a smooth and easy integration into all of your Neptune projects.
The main function of the Silhouette component is to improve readability
Manage Complexity
The silhouette feature allows breaking down complex algorithms into smaller, more manageable logical parts. This helps avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information at once.
Emphasize High-Level Structure
By encapsulating lower-level details within silhouettes, the high-level structure and flow of the diagram becomes clearer and easier to grasp. The reader can focus on the overall logic without getting bogged down in minutiae.
Facilitate Modular Design
Silhouettes enable a modular approach to flowchart design, where reusable sub-processes can be defined and called from multiple places. This promotes consistency and maintainability.
Align with Human Cognition
The hierarchical, nested nature of silhouettes aligns well with how humans naturally process information. It allows breaking down complex problems into more digestible chunks, making the diagrams more intuitive to understand.
Provide Visual Clues
The distinct silhouette shape acts as a visual cue, helping the reader quickly identify the different components and levels within the flowchart. This enhances the overall clarity and scanability of the diagram.
The 'Skewer' component is representative of the 'Happy Path'
In a DRAKON diagram, the main vertical line or "skewer" represents the "happy path" - the most common or successful sequence of steps in the algorithm. This central path is visually emphasized, making it easy for the reader to quickly identify the main flow of the process.
Sorting Paths from Left to Right
When there are multiple paths branching off from the skewer, they are sorted from left to right in order of decreasing desirability or likelihood. The "best" path follows the central skewer, while less favorable paths branch off to the right.
This left-to-right ordering helps the reader quickly grasp the overall structure and prioritization of the different scenarios modeled in the diagram.
Minimizing Visual Clutter
By using the skewer to highlight the main flow, DRAKON diagrams avoid the visual complexity and clutter that can plague traditional flowcharts. The central path stands out clearly, while secondary paths branch off in an organized manner.
This clean, uncluttered layout makes the diagrams much easier to comprehend at a glance, without forcing the reader to parse a tangled web of arrows and connections.
Aligning with Human Cognition
The skewer concept aligns well with how humans naturally process information. We tend to focus on the "happy path" or most common scenario first, and then consider less likely alternatives. DRAKON's visual design taps into this cognitive tendency, making the diagrams more intuitive and easier to understand.
In summary, the skewer is a powerful organizational principle that gives DRAKON flowcharts a clear, readable structure. It emphasizes the main flow, organizes secondary paths, minimizes visual clutter, and aligns with human cognitive patterns. This results in diagrams that are simpler to comprehend and communicate effectively.
Key Features of DRAKON Flowcharts
Clarity & Readability
DRAKON aims to make algorithms easily understandable at a glance.
