ArgoUML vs BESSER
ArgoUML
argouml-tigris-org.github.ioBESSER
besser-pearl.orgSide by side
| Figure | ArgoUML | BESSER |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · UML Modeling Software | 8.2 (#5) | 9.0 (#1) |
| Installation | The project provides installation through Java Web Start. | The Python package is installed with pip, and the full codebase can be cloned and run locally for extensions and generators. |
| License | ArgoUML is distributed under the Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0. | BESSER is open source under the MIT license. |
| Support | The project directs users to a mailing list for UML questions and an IRC channel at Freenode. | The project offers an on-page assistant without an account, email support, and GitHub bug triage weekly. |
Plans
In their own words
ArgoUML
ArgoUML is a free, open-source UML modeling tool for creating standard UML 1.4 diagrams. It supports all nine diagram types in that standard and follows the OMG UML 1.4 specification. The application is written entirely in Java and is intended to run on platforms with Java 5 or Java 6; the project offers installation through Java Web Start. Models use a JMI-based repository and XMI for saving: ArgoUML imports XMI 1.1 and 1.2 and writes XMI 1.2. Diagram output can be saved as GIF, PNG, PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript, PGML, or SVG. It can generate code for Java, C++, C#, PHP4, and PHP5, and its reverse-engineering framework supports Java source, JARs, and class files. Other capabilities include UML profiles, OCL constraint modeling with syntax and type checking, and background design critics that add suggestions to a to-do list. The interface is available in ten listed languages. ArgoUML is distributed under the Eclipse Public License 1.0 and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux through a Java runtime.
BESSER
BESSER is an open-source low-code platform for building smart applications by modeling once and generating APIs, databases, agents, and deployments. Its 15+ generators cover databases, REST APIs, web apps, AI agents, and deployment manifests. Built-in modeling includes class diagrams, state machines, object diagrams, agents, and deployment specifications. The GUI Creator deterministically generates complete React frontends from platform-independent GUI models, and AI-assisted modeling supports software with embedded AI components. BESSER connects through an MCP server to Claude Desktop, Cursor, and other MCP-aware clients; BESSER Skills also integrate with Claude Code, Cursor, and Copilot for model and code-generation workflows. Generated Docker components can be used to deploy a running application from a model. The project is MIT-licensed and free, with no freemium tier or hidden fees. It runs on the web, Linux, macOS, and Windows. The Python package installs with pip, and the full codebase can run locally for extensions and generators. It is tested on Python 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12; Python 3.13 is not supported yet. Support includes an on-page assistant, email, and weekly GitHub bug triage.