Data Modeling in the Cloud

In this paper we describe ERDPlus, a free web-based data modeling tool we developed for use in academic settings. The paper includes a comparison of ERDPlus to forty existing data modeling tools. This comparison shows how ERDPlus differs from existing data-modeling tools, and how it facilitates data modeling education. Unlike the existing tools, ERDPlus is web-based, free for academic use, provides free cloud storage of diagrams, works on both Mac and Windows computers, and is capable of creating models for both operational and analytical databases. This paper also includes the description of the usability survey we undertook to validate that ERDPlus is easy to learn and use for novice students learning about data modeling.