FreeMind

The extension that integrates FreeMind maps into the wiki is no longer maintained. And the preferred output format (flash) is so completely awful that it has been abandoned by the web. So, unfortunately I must investigate and recommend a suitable alternative. I have been using XMind, however it really isn't as good as the original FreeMind. For example, it doesn't have the property system. And it doesn't integrate with wiki. There is no extension that I'm aware of. Instead, you have to post your map to their 'Share' website, and then embed a graphic. That doesn't exactly work for your board brainstorm. I believe you can still export your Xmind to .mm format, which would allow you to use the FreeMind extension; however that extension is unmaintained.

A better (but more involved) solution may have been found: the wiki mindmap site offers a dynamic browsing front-end to wikis https://github.com/nyfelix/wikimindmap

Description[edit]

FreeMind is probably the best free software, cross-platform mindmapping tool in a fairly long wp:List of Mind Mapping software. It can use an XML file format (and the next version will by default). It currently interoperates with Quanta, MediaWiki, OpenDocument, and TaskJuggler making it ideal as a part of the toolchain for managing projects. FreeMind is available in source, and binary form. It is included in the official Debian repositories.

There are other alternative tools, but so far in the evaluation of this tool, it covers every sweet spot. It is cross-platform (java) and can be integrated with TaskJuggler for project management. Unlike Kdissert which is first focussed on creating documents, FreeMind is focused on creating wp:Mind_maps.

wp:Image:Guru_Mindmap.jpg

Version[edit]

FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta2 7 Feb 2016
FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta1 22 Jun 2015
FreeMind 1.0.1 12 Apr 2014
FreeMind 1.0.0 became available on 19 Oct 2013 *

Documentation[edit]

Using FreeMind[edit]

<mm>[[Example.mm|flash]]</mm> produces

<mm>flash</mm>

Integration[edit]

Wiki[edit]

This wiki is already setup to integrate the display of FreeMind mindmaps using the flash plugin (enabled through the FreeMind extension)

See the FreeMind wiki article on How to embed mindmaps. Essentially, you

Upload the FreeMind mind map (.mm) file
Use the example link syntax illustrated here to embed the mindmap:

<mm>[[myBrain.mm|flash]]</mm>

Note that flash|applet can be specified as format, however flash is not supported in modern browsers such as Firefox and Chrome due to widespread and constant security flaws.
Similarly, java applets are problematic as users have largely abandoned installing Java for the same reason: security flaws.
Updating the map is as simple as uploading a newer file in place of the existing one.

Issue Tracking[edit]

I think it would be very interesting and useful to create a facility that would integrate the presentation of traditional bug/issue tracking systems or 'todo' lists in the Mindmapping "view" of the current issues.

Adding the dimension of project management and scheduling ability of TaskJuggler would provide fully graphical "big picture" manipulation and forecasting tools with bottom-up reporting and tracking mechanisms. Somebody wrote an export script for Mantis, so check that example code for re-use

Project Management[edit]

FreeMind is integrated with the TaskJuggler application such that you can export nodes directly as TaskJuggler include files and maintain your project in parallel using both tools. See http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/FreeMind_0.9.0:_The_New_Features#TaskJuggler_Integration

Exporting / Importing[edit]

See the website about Exporting and Accessories (which are 3rd-party add-ons that allow you to export to other file formats). The menu of the application lists many choices (see screenshot for illustration). One interesting point is that FreeMind exports to an OpenOffice outline format (which in turn can easily generate a presentation in OpenOffice.