I know it’s been a while since the last article. I haven’t forgotten the importance of sharing what I learn. So, I’m sharing a useful tool that I use every day: PlantUML.
If you’re not already using PlantUML to document your SAP Commerce projects, you’re missing out on one of the easiest wins in your dev workflow. It’s a no-BS tool for turning simple text into diagrams you can commit, version, and share without leaving your IDE.
If you want to skip the setup and dive right in, head over to diagrams.commercesense.io—a clean, ad-free PlantUML editor I helped build specifically for SAP Commerce teams.
Why PlantUML?
SAP Commerce implementations are rarely straightforward. Traditional diagramming tools using PowerPoint and Draw.io take too much time. and do not offer the simplicity that PlantUML does.
Here’s why I use it:
- I can write diagrams in plain text. Easy to diff, review, and update in the free editor: diagrams.commercesense.io
- I can write diagrams in plain text. Easy to diff, review, and update.
- It works with my existing Git setup. Docs move at the speed of code.
- It fits right into my IDE, whether that’s IntelliJ, VS Code, or even the terminal.
What You Can Document
📦 SAP Commerce High-Level Layered Architecture
The PlantUML Syntax:
@startuml
package "SAP Commerce" {
[Backoffice] --> [Service Layer]
[Storefront] --> [Controller Layer]
[Controller Layer] --> [Facade Layer]
[Facade Layer] --> [Service Layer]
[Service Layer] --> [DAO Layer]
}
@enduml
The Image Output:
"Illustrative" Checkout Flow (Sequence Diagram)
The PlantUML Syntax:
@startuml actor Customer participant "Storefront" participant "SAP Commerce" Customer -> "Storefront": Add to Cart "Storefront" -> "SAP Commerce": Validate Cart "SAP Commerce" -> "SAP Commerce": Apply Promotions "SAP Commerce" --> "Storefront": Response @enduml
The Image Output:
Final Thoughts
Clear documentation shouldn’t be a bottleneck, and it doesn’t have to be. PlantUML is one of those tools that pays off right away with the partnership of diagrams.commercesense.io. Whether I’m mapping out a new integration or onboarding a junior dev, diagrams like these speak louder than walls of text.
Give it a try on diagrams.commercesense.io, and let me know how you’re using PlantUML in your own SAP Commerce projects. I’d love to see what you’re building. See you in the next one.
