ARCH - Architecture Designer

What is ARCH - Architecture Designer?

ARCH - Architecture Designer is a local-first diagram tool for architecture and network planning, with drag-and-drop components, smart routing, projects, and .arch export.

Its core purpose is to help you visually plan and document system and network architecture without requiring a backend service to produce and maintain your diagram projects.

Key Features

• Local-first storage: Keeps your work available without relying on a backend, supporting a workflow focused on your local projects.
• Drag-and-drop components: Build diagrams by placing and arranging components directly on the canvas.
• Smart routing: Automatically manages diagram connections so links stay organized as you layout components.
• Projects: Organize diagrams into separate project spaces for easier management.
• .arch export: Export your diagrams in an ARCH-specific format for sharing or saving alongside your workflow.

How to Use ARCH - Architecture Designer

1. Open ARCH - Architecture Designer and create or select a project.
2. Add components to the canvas using drag-and-drop.
3. Connect components and rely on smart routing to keep links visually consistent as you move elements.
4. When your diagram is ready, use .arch export to save or export the diagram from your project.

Use Cases

• Network diagram documentation: Draft a current-state view of network elements and how traffic flows between components.
• System architecture planning: Create a visual blueprint of services, dependencies, and connection patterns during planning or design iterations.
• Project-based architecture notes: Maintain separate architecture diagrams for different deployments, environments, or client projects.
• Diagram updates over time: Rework layouts and connections efficiently as requirements change, keeping the diagram readable as components move.
• Sharing internal design artifacts: Export diagrams in the .arch format to move projects between environments or collaborators who use the same format.

FAQ

• What format can I export my diagrams in? ARCH - Architecture Designer provides .arch export for diagrams.

• Does it require a backend? The product page states that it works without a backend requirement for using/exporting projects.

• How do I build diagrams? You create diagrams using drag-and-drop components on a canvas and connect them with smart routing.

• Can I organize diagrams into different sets? Yes. The product includes projects for organizing diagrams.

Alternatives

• General-purpose diagram tools (flowchart/canvas editors): Tools focused on generic diagramming can also draw architecture diagrams, but may require more manual formatting for routing and component layout.
• Dedicated architecture diagramming tools: Some tools are specifically targeted at system and network diagrams; they may offer different component libraries and layout behaviors compared with ARCH’s drag-and-drop + smart routing approach.
• Collaborative whiteboards: Whiteboard-style tools can create architecture diagrams collaboratively, but they often differ in how projects are managed and how diagrams are exported or preserved as structured project files.
• Text-based architecture diagram tools (code-first): If you prefer defining diagrams in text that renders to diagrams, a code-first workflow can replace drag-and-drop editing, trading visual placement for versionable text definitions.