TALA

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A novel layout engine developed by Terrastruct, designed specifically for software architecture diagrams.

Pros

• As a general orthogonal layout engine, TALA is not constrained to one type like hierarchies or trees or radial. For fundamentally non-hierarchical layouts, TALA can produce diagrams like a human would on a whiteboard.
• top and left can be used to lock positions.
• Considers and prefers symmetry.
• First-class consideration for containers.
• direction can be set per-container.
• near can be specified to be to another shape.
• sql_table connections point to exact row.
• Dynamic label positioning to avoid obstructions.
• Connections for grid cells use TALA's routing engine instead of always straight lines.

Cons

• Has randomness. A small change to a label can cascade into an entirely different layout.