Freeplane

Freeplane is a free, open‑source application for creating and navigating mind maps, also referred to as concept or information maps. It offers tools for structuring ideas, linking related topics, and managing knowledge in a visual format that can be edited and explored interactively. The software runs on any operating system with a current Java runtime, including macOS, and can be launched locally or portably from removable media such as a USB drive.

The program targets both casual users and power users who need a robust alternative to commercial mind‑mapping tools. Its feature set includes hierarchical node organization, rich text formatting, hyperlinking, and the ability to attach files or scripts to nodes, facilitating detailed information capture and retrieval. Because it is built with Java Swing and OSGi, it integrates with the Java ecosystem and can be extended by developers.

Freeplane’s development is community‑driven, with source code hosted on Sourceforge and a public issue tracker for bug reports. Documentation, change logs, and discussion forums are provided to help users and contribute, and the project welcomes new contributors to its codebase.