Eclipse Papyrus — The Complete Guide: Free Open-Source UML and SysML Modelling
Eclipse Papyrus is the Eclipse Foundation’s modelling environment for the standard UML and SysML languages. It is aimed at people who need a standards-compliant model, not just a picture of a diagram: every element is stored in one model and appears in every diagram it takes part in. It is built on Eclipse and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Eclipse Papyrus
Eclipse Foundation
An open-source UML and SysML modelling environment with diagram editors and profiles, for requirements, architecture and model-driven design.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- UML diagrams — class, component, sequence, state machine and activity.
- SysML diagrams — requirements, block definition, internal block and parametric.
- Profiles — defining stereotypes and a domain-specific language for your field.
- Extensions — executing models to check behaviour and generating code from the model.
- Eclipse platform — connecting to version control and development tools in the same environment.
Who it suits
Systems and software engineers on projects where a client or a standard requires SysML, and researchers building a domain-specific modelling language. The interface is heavy and takes time to get used to; if you only need a UML diagram for documentation, a simple text-based tool will do.
Related tools
For systems engineering with a guided method — Capella. For a lighter modelling tool with BPMN — Modelio. For quick UML diagrams from text — PlantUML.
Capella
Eclipse Foundation (originated at Thales)
Model-based systems engineering with the Arcadia method: from operational analysis to physical architecture. Used in aerospace, rail and automotive.
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Modelio
Modeliosoft (Modelio Open Source)
Open-source UML and BPMN modelling, with extensions for SysML and ArchiMate and code generation. For architecture documentation and system design.
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PlantUML
PlantUML project
Diagrams from text — sequence, state, component and Gantt diagrams written as code and kept under version control.
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OpenModelica
Open Source Modelica Consortium
Simulate multi-domain physical systems with the Modelica language.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
Papyrus is the free choice when you need full, standards-compliant UML and SysML. Open source and completely free, including for commercial use.