Gliffy

Gliffy is software for diagramming via a HTML5 cloud-based app. It is used to create UML diagrams, floor plans, Venn diagrams, flowcharts and various other kinds of diagrams online. Gliffy diagrams can be shared with and edited by users in real time. The SaaS is supported in all modern web-browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer 9+.

History

Gliffy was founded in 2005 by friends and one-time coworkers, Chris Kohlhardt and Clint Dickson. The two software engineers saw a need for an online diagramming tool and decided to leave their full-time jobs and start a company of their own.^[1] Gliffy got its first big break when Kohlhardt reached out to Mike Cannon-Brookes, one of the founders of Atlassian, an Australian enterprise software company. With his encouragement, Kohlhardt and Dickson created a Gliffy plugin for Atlassian’s collaboration product Confluence, and business took off.^[2] In May 2006, Gliffy announced its public beta and by 2007 the beta was removed. In 2009, a new Gliffy plugin for Atlassian's JIRA product was unveiled and in 2010 Gliffy was added to the Google Apps marketplace. In early 2013, Gliffy moved to an all HTML5 platform,^[3] at the same time adding Visio support.^[4] Today Gliffy integrates with Google Apps, Google Drive, JIRA, and Confluence, and has over two million registered users. Gliffy has been bootstrapped from its inception.^[5]

Notable dates

• August 2006: Gliffy adds UML shapes
• November 2006: Gliffy Plugin for Atlassian Confluence unveiled
• February 2007: Beta removed
• January 2009: Gliffy Plugin for Atlassian JIRA unveiled
• July 2010: Gliffy added to Google Apps marketplace
• January 2012: Gliffy reaches 1 million users
• October 2012: Gliffy moves to HTML5^[6]
• June 2014: Gliffy surpasses 2.5 million users
• March 2016: Gliffy accidental database deletion made it go offline for 71 hours^[7]

Features

Gliffy features a drag-and-drop interface and real-time online collaboration and sharing capabilities. It allows users to export their diagrams in multiple formats including: PDF, JPEG, PNG and SVG. It is supported in all modern web browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer 9+.

Integrations

Gliffy integrates with Google Apps, Google Drive, JIRA, and Confluence.

External links

• gliffy (official Website)

References

1. "Gliffy, the online Visio killer". CNET. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
2. "5 Desktop Apps to Help Run Your Business Better". September 3, 2014.
3. "A Platform Play – Gliffy Moves Its Online Diagram Service To HTML5 And Says Goodbye To Flash". TechCrunch. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
4. "Gliffy goes HTML5, adds Visio support". June 12, 2013.
5. "Gliffy: bootstrapped in San Francisco". ZDNet. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
6. "How Gliffy is managing the risk of re-writing their product in HTML5". April 19, 2012.
7. "Gliffy Offline: 71 Hours Race Between The Tortoise And The Hare". March 2016.