Software project process flow

Article Contributed By :. Easy Normal Medium Hard Expert. Writing code in comment? Please use ide. Load Comments. What's New. This tool is available for almost all major platforms, along with a web version that can be accessed using any of your favorite web browsers regardless of the operating system, as long as you have an active internet connection.

The paid version of the web-based version gives you access to all the sophisticated templates and the ability to work on multiple documents at a time. Price : USD One of the most popular diagramming tools that also allows you to create PFDs with ease, Visual Paradigm comes with both perpetual and subscription plans. Available for all major platforms, the Community Edition and online version of this process flow diagram software have limited options, but can be used for free.

SmartDraw is another diagramming tool that is available for both PC and web-browsers. One of the most popular process flow diagram software applications, Lucidchart is used by many giants of their respective industries such as Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon, etc. With the ability to create infographics and PFDs for almost every category, this diagramming tool makes the drawing process extremely simple with the least computer hardware resource consumption.

A product that comes with Office and is also available as an offline program, Visio is backed up by Microsoft brand, and that is why it is considered to be an efficient process flow diagram software for both scholars and professional engineers.

Because of the typical vendor, Visio can easily integrate with other MS Office products and enables you to come up with detailed and yet formatted reports in comparatively less time.

Below is a comparison table that lists all the features of the process flow diagram software discussed above. Those that get through an initially challenging learning curve report that once mastered this is a great application for creating professional looking schematics rapidly and efficiently. There are a couple of different pricing options available, with licenses available on an annual basis or for a one-time fee.

For more information, read our full Edraw Max review. Gliffy provides a straightforward tool for creating a very wide variety of chart types online or within Confluence. It also stores created charts into Google Drive, should you use that those Cloud services. One nice twist on this online software tool is that you can install a Chrome version that can work offline, should an Internet connection not be available. What this product lacks is much in the way of object customization, although it scores highly on ease of use and a gentle learning curve.

If you'd like to check out more, read our full Gliffy review. According to Lucid Software, Lucidchart has over 15 million users. Strongly suggesting that this is not a niche solution, but a highly popular one. Lucid is one of the few tools that covers Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OSX and various Linux distributions by default, admittedly by being an online app rather than natively.

Instead, diagrams are restricted to a maximum of 60 objects, sufficient to explore its potential. And, it might be right for your business, too. I you want to find out more, read our full Lucidchart review. Like Lucid, SmartDraw can name an impressive list of blue-chip companies that are license holders since the company started in These include at least half of the Fortune quoted businesses and more than , public and private enterprises across the globe. The SmartDraw product can be used online or as a standalone Windows application.

It supports the creation of no less than seventy chart types, including all the standard ones. There more exotic templates include those for documenting a crime scene, landscape gardening, seating plan and even accident reconstruction. The multi-user packages have extra functionality that allows licenses to be managed and can also control the sharing of SmartDraw data with other users.

Most of the sophistication of SmartDraw is in the templates and not the application. Flowchart Examples. Process Flowchart. Basic Flowchart Symbols and Meaning. Initially, the project scope is defined and the appropriate methods for completing the project are determined. Following this step, the durations for the various tasks necessary to complete the work are listed and grouped into a work breakdown structure.

Project planning is often used to organize different areas of a project, including project plans, work loads and the management of teams and individuals. The logical dependencies between tasks are defined using an activity network diagram that enables identification of the critical path. Float or slack time in the schedule can be calculated using project management software. Then the necessary resources can be estimated and costs for each activity can be allocated to each resource, giving the total project cost.