8 Best System Architect Tools and System Architecture Software

Last updated on by Editorial Staff
System Architect Tools

When it comes to system architecture, having the right tools is essential. System architect tools are essential for businesses, organizations, and even individuals looking to maintain efficient and effective operations.

These tools help manage complex data streams, increase productivity, identify potential risks & problems early on, and reduce costs & complexity while increasing the scalability & performance of applications.

This blog post will discuss 8 of the best system architect tools and systems architecture software options, along with their features and pricing. 

What are system architect tools?

System architect tools are software programs used to design and build computer systems. They can help with tasks such as modeling the system, creating diagrams, and specifying requirements. 

System architect tools offer the ability to design systems effectively for different scenarios by providing the necessary frameworks for defining application architecture.

This includes analysis functions such as modeling systems at various levels of abstraction (serverless computing or microservices) or enterprise-level solution designs with multiple interconnected processes and services.

System architects can use these tools to break down their projects into smaller components tailored to specific customer needs or requirements quickly and accurately.

Here is the list of 8 best system architect tools:

1. IBM Rational Software Architect Designer

IBM Rational Software Architect Designer is a software design tool that enables developers to design, develop, and deploy software architectures.

Webpage of IBM Rational Software Architect Designer

Features

  • Graphical abstractions
  • Enhanced communication and collaboration
  • Ease compliance and risk management

Pricing

It offers 2 pricing options. 

  • IBM rational software architect designer
  • IBM rational software architect designer for WebSphere

You need to contact the vendor to get pricing details for each plan.

Other details

DeploymentSaaS
TrainingDocumentation, Videos
SupportOnline

2. Microsoft Visio

It is a family of Microsoft Office and is a vector graphic and diagramming tool. With its help, you can work visually from anywhere at any time.

Webpage of Microsoft Visio

 Features

  • Diagram software
  • Org charts
  • Floor plans
  • Network diagrams
  • UML diagrams
  • Process mapping
  • Flow charts
  • Visual collaboration

Pricing

Two pricing plans are there.

One month free trial is available.

Subscription plan

  • Visio Plan 1 –  It charges $5 per user per month
  • Visio Plan 2 – It charges $15 per user per month

One-time purchase plan

  • Visio standard 2021 – It charges $309.99
  • Visio Professional 2021 – It charges $579.99
Pricing for Microsoft Visio
Pricing Sheet for Microsoft Visio

Likes

  • It enables you to analyze images 
  • Easily understandable documents
  • It gives a response in JSON and is easily understandable by Python or any other language.

Dislikes

  • The software is a little bit expensive.
  • It needs to provide stable frames as an input otherwise, the error comes.

3. Lucidscale

It is a system architecture diagram tool that enables teams to design, build, and deploy their business effectively.

Webpage of Lucidscale

Features

  • Security and Compliance
  • Accurate cloud diagrams
  • Incident response
  • Internal documentation
  • Future development

Pricing

It offers a 14-day free trial without a credit card.

It offers two plans.

  • Individual – This plan is for single users, charges $2000 per year, and includes one creator license.
  • Team – It charges $2400 per year, including the creator and explorer licenses.
Pricing Details for Lucidscale

Likes

  • The software is easy to use and represents the cloud architecture. In addition, it works with other cloud services such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
  • It enhances security posture.
  • It allows you to model the current system and make changes to it.

Dislikes

  • There will be a chance of failing while integrating with AWS or GCP
  • Difficult to integrate with google cloud

Languages Supported

German, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

4. Modelio

Modelio is an open-source system modeling tool that allows you to design, model, and visualize your system. It supports UML, BPMN, Archimate, and SysML.

Webpage of Modelio

The latest version is 4.0.1, dated 3rd February 2020

It is licensed under GNU v3

Features

  • UML modeler
  • BPMN support integrated with UML 
  • Java code generator
  • XMI import/export
  • HTML model publishing
  • Extension system
  • Scripting language support

Pricing

It is open-source software.

Other details

Supported deviceMac, windows
SupportChat
TrainingIn-person, Documentation

5. ArgoUML

ArgoUML is a system architect tool that allows you to create system diagrams and models. It is a Java-based software that is open source and free to use.

ArgoUML is used by system architects, system analysts, and software engineers to diagram system structures and analyze system behavior.

Webpage of ArgoUML

Features

  • XMI support
  • All 9 UML 1.4 diagrams supported
  • Platform independent 
  • Export diagram as GIF, PNG, PS, EPS, PGML, and SVG
  • Forward engineering / Reverse engineering
  • Advanced diagram editing and zoom
  • OCL support

Pricing

It is open source.

It is available in ten languages– American English, British English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Norwegian Bokmål, and Chinese.

6. Oracle Enterprise Architecture

Oracle Enterprise Architecture is a system architect tool that allows users to model, design, and manage their enterprise architecture.

It also enables end users to collaborate with Oracle to develop business processes. It provides a comprehensive view of the enterprise and helps users optimize their business processes and systems. 

Webpage of Oracle Enterprise Architecture

Features

  • Visualization and analysis of current architecture
  • In-built libraries for components and patterns
  • Identification of opportunities for improvement and plan for changes

Pricing

The software has not provided pricing details, and you need to contact the provider directly.

Supported industries

  • Automotive
  • Communications
  • Construction and Engineering
  • Consumer Goods
  • Energy and Water
  • Financial Services
  • Food and Beverage
  • Government and Education
  • Health
  • High Technology
  • Hospitality
  • Industrial Manufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Oil and Gas
  • Professional Services
  • Retail
  • Travel and Transportation
  • Wholesale Distribution

Likes

  • Provides customer-driven approach
  • It makes technical architecture easy

Dislikes

  • It takes more time to respond to service support
  • You find many errors in the order of things on the screen

7. Sparx Systems

Sparx Systems is an Enterprise Architect that helps system architects to design, model, and manage complex systems. It offers many features that allow system architects to collaborate effectively on system designs.

The current version is 16.0

Webpage of Sparx Systems

Features

  • Unified architecture framework
  • UML 2.0 Tools
  • PHP UML modeling
  • Business process modeling
  • Model-driven architecture
  • Requirements management
  • Software development
  • System engineering

Pricing

It offers four plans.

  • Professional – Charges $229 per license for a standard license, $299 per license for a floating license
  • Corporate – Charges $299 per license for a standard license, $399 per license for a floating license
  • Unified – Charges $499 per license for a standard license, $649 per license for a floating license
  • Ultimate – Charges $699 per license for a standard license, $899 per license for a floating license
Pricing List of Sparx Systems

Likes

  • Entity drawing features and traceability is good
  • It provides code editing with Syntex highlighter and Intellisense

Dislikes

  • It becomes a bit slow when the model is large
  • Moving a single attribute from one entity to another is not easy
  • The check-in and check-out process is also slow

Other details

DeploymentCloud, SaaS, Web-Based
Supported deviceMac, Windows
SupportChat
TrainingIn-Person, Live Online, Webinars, Documentation

8. Archi

Archi is an open-source system architecture software for Archimate models and sketches.

Webpage of Archi

Features

  • Supports archimate 3.1 languages
  • Creation of archimate views and viewpoints
  • A rich library of elements and patterns
  • It is cross-platform and written in JAVA
  • Supports devices like Windows, Mac, and Linux
  • Provides canvas modeling toolkit

Pricing

It is open-source software.

Likes

  • Diagram creation and architectural views are good
  • It provides add-ons for collaboration and more
  • Catalog creation is easy

Dislikes

  • Sometimes it will be slow when you have a lot of diagrams in a folder
  • It does not provide Matriz functionality, and hence gap analysis is not possible
  • Duplicating flows and copy, paste options are not smooth

Conclusion

There are a lot of system architect tools and systems architecture software options on the market these days. So, deciding which tool is best for your needs is not easy. 

This article has compiled a list of the eight best system architect tools with their features, pricing, pros, and cons. We hope this post will help make your decision easier when choosing a tool or software program.

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