What is the BESSER Web Modeling Editor?

Updated

The BESSER Web Modeling Editor is a browser-based tool for creating and editing software models, hosted at editor.besser-pearl.org and provided by the BESSER project. You use it when you want to design models directly in a web browser instead of installing a desktop modeling environment. Because public documentation for the site is limited, treat the live interface as the authoritative source for exactly which notations, features, and export options are available.

What it is

The editor is a web application rather than a downloadable program. That means:

  • No local installation is required to start working — you open the URL and work in the browser.
  • It belongs to the BESSER project, which is associated with model-driven software engineering (the "pearl" in the hostname refers to the BESSER PEARL tooling).
  • It is a modeling editor, so its purpose is to let you build and modify software models, not to run or deploy the software being modeled.

Typical uses

The most common reason to reach for a browser-based modeling editor is convenience and portability. For example, if you need to sketch a class or component model during a meeting on a machine where you cannot install software, a web editor lets you start immediately and share a link or file afterward.

Typical scenarios include:

  • Drafting software models during teaching, coursework, or workshops.
  • Prototyping a design before committing it to a heavier desktop tool.
  • Collaborating when you want a shared, URL-accessible editing surface.

What to check before relying on it

Since the public description of the site is sparse, verify these points yourself in the interface before making it part of a workflow:

Question Why it matters
Which modeling notations are supported? Determines whether it fits your project (e.g., UML-style class models vs. others).
Can you import and export models? Affects whether you can move work to or from other tools.
Is there any account or login requirement? The available information does not state whether login is needed, so confirm on the site.
Is there any cost? No pricing information is provided; do not assume it is free — check the site.
Is your work saved or persisted? Determines whether you must export before closing the tab.

How to get started

  1. Open editor.besser-pearl.org in a modern browser.
  2. Look for the option to create a new model or project.
  3. Choose the model type or notation you need.
  4. Add elements and connect them using the editor's palette or canvas.
  5. Use any available export or save function to keep your work, since persistence behavior is not documented publicly.

Expected result: you should end up with a model you can view, edit, and — if the editor supports it — export.

Common snags: the exact menu names, supported notations, and save/export behavior are not documented in the available public description, so if a step does not match what you see, follow the on-screen labels rather than any assumed layout.

Bottom line

Use the BESSER Web Modeling Editor if you want a no-install, browser-based way to create and edit software models and you are willing to confirm its feature set directly in the interface. If you need guaranteed import/export compatibility, documented persistence, or confirmed pricing before adopting a tool, check those specifics on the site first.