SimpleDraw Documentation
A local-first drawing and diagramming app that runs in your browser: sketch tools, 249 Beep.Skia diagram components, tables, connectors that flow, editable files, PNG/SVG/PDF export and tools for AI assistants.
In this documentation
- Getting started — The workspace, the first visit and your first drawing
- Keyboard shortcuts — Every shortcut comes from one command list, so the help panel in the app always matches the keys. On a Mac use Command where this page says Ctrl
- Draw and edit — Tools, selection, arranging, snapping, copy and paste, locking, finding and rotating
- Style, text and images — Colours, fonts, Arabic text, themes, images, cropping and pen pressure
- Pages, frames and templates — Up to 50 pages in a drawing, frames you can present, and starter templates
- Connectors and lines — Port connectors between components, arrows attached to shapes, bends and routes, quick flowcharts and flowing lines
- Components and libraries — The 249 Beep.Skia components, flowchart shapes and their flow direction, and your own reusable library
- Tables — Cells that grow with their text, merges, spreadsheet paste, right-to-left order and CSV export
- Mermaid, layout and imports — Mermaid flowcharts, automatic layout, and drawings from Excalidraw and draw.io
- Files, saving and export — Autosave, restore points, native files, image and PDF export, offline use, updates and limits
- AI assistants (MCP) — Claude Code and Codex plugins, the 69 drawing tools, and Link agent for working on your open board
- Hosting and building — Build, verify, publish and host the static app, and where its third-party notices are
Overview
SimpleDraw draws with rectangles, ellipses, diamonds, lines, arrows, a freehand pen, handwritten-style text, sticky notes, tables and images, or inserts ready-made diagram components (flowchart, UML, ERD, network, cloud, business and more) from the built-in Beep.Skia libraries and joins them with connectors.
Your drawings stay on your device. There is no account and no server-side database: SimpleDraw saves as you work, Save drawing downloads an editable file you can keep or open elsewhere, and Export image makes PNG, SVG or PDF for sharing. The published app is static, so it needs only a web host; it works offline after its first load.
Local-first
Autosave on this device with restore points. No sign-in, no database, no application server.
249 components
Sixteen Beep.Skia families with search, favourites, editable properties and directional connectors.
Tables
Cells that grow with their text, merges, spreadsheet paste, right-to-left order and CSV export.
Flowing connectors
Animated flow on lines and connectors, with a looping GIF or a video for LinkedIn.
Bring work in
Open Excalidraw, draw.io and Mermaid files, with a report of what changed.
English and Arabic
One button switches the interface and its layout direction; Arabic text is shaped and ordered right to left.
AI assistant tools
69 MCP tools let Claude Code and Codex create, edit, render and export drawings, even live on your board.
Works offline
After the first successful load, reload, edit and save without a connection.
Quick start
Open the app, pick a language, and start drawing.
Explore the help
Getting started
The workspace, the first visit, your first drawing and where your work is kept.
Draw and edit
Tools, selection, arranging, snapping, copy and paste, locking, finding, rotating.
Style, text and images
Colours, fonts, Arabic text, themes, images, cropping and pen pressure.
Pages, frames and templates
Up to 50 pages, frames, presenting with a laser pointer, and starter templates.
Connectors and lines
Port connectors, attached arrows, bends, routes, quick flowcharts and flowing lines.
Components and libraries
The 249 Beep.Skia components, flowchart shapes and flow direction, your own library.
Tables
Insert, type, paste from a spreadsheet, merge, resize, style and export as CSV.
Mermaid, layout and imports
Mermaid flowcharts, automatic layout, Excalidraw and draw.io files.
Files, saving and export
Autosave, restore points, native files, PNG/SVG/PDF, offline use, updates, limits.
AI assistants (MCP)
Install the Claude Code and Codex plugins, the tool list, and Link agent.
Hosting and building
Build, verify, publish and host the static app; third-party notices.