FreeMind

Description

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:Media:Guru_Mindmap.jpg

Documentation

• http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page#Documentation
• Generated Flash Mind Map format

Integration

Wiki

This wiki is already setup to integrate the display of FreeMind mindmaps using the flash plugin

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

1. Upload the FreeMind mind map (.mm) file
2. Use the specific link syntax illustrated below to embed the mindmap

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

Updating the map is as simple as uploading a newer file in place of the existing one.

Issue Tracking

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

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

see the site and menu of the application. One interesting point is that FreeMind exports to an OpenOffice outline format (which in turn can easily generate a presentation in OpenOffice .

Extensible Markup Language = a system for markup such that you can create your own 'schema' of terms rather than a specific markup language.

A worker machine in a Kubernetes cluster.