head to head · open source
Mermaid vs MasterParser
Mermaid has 90,293 GitHub stars, 9,266 forks, 1,781 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. MasterParser has 760 stars, 69 forks, 3 open issues and last shipped 8 months ago. Mermaid leads on adoption by 11,781% (90,293 vs 760 stars). Mermaid is written in TypeScript under MIT; MasterParser is written in PowerShell under MIT. Mermaid has attracted 10% as many forks as stars, MasterParser 9%. Mermaid was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Mermaid | MasterParser | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 90K | ★ 760 |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | PowerShell |
| Last push | 2026-09-15 | 2026-02-01 |
| Forks | ⑂ 9.3K | ⑂ 69 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Mermaid if
- You weight community size — 90K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick MasterParser if
- You want the MasterParser feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches PowerShell
- You evaluated both and MasterParser fits your workflow better
About Mermaid
Mermaid is a JavaScript based diagramming tool that renders diagrams from Markdown like text definitions. It lives in the JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem and operates both in the browser and in Node.js environments. The project’s core purpose is to eliminate the gap between software development and documentation by letting developers write diagrams alongside code, avoiding the rot and overhead of manual diagram maintenance.
read the full Mermaid overview →
About MasterParser
MasterParser is a Digital Forensics and Incident Response tool written in PowerShell for analyzing Linux log files from the /var/log directory. The project focuses on the investigative workflow used by incident responders who need to review system logs after a security event, and it is positioned within the Linux DFIR, cyber security, and incident response ecosystem.
read the full MasterParser overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Mermaid or MasterParser more popular?
Mermaid has 90,293 GitHub stars and MasterParser has 760. Mermaid has the larger community by that measure.
Are Mermaid and MasterParser free?
Both are open source. Mermaid is licensed under MIT and MasterParser under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Mermaid and MasterParser?
Mermaid is written in TypeScript and MasterParser in PowerShell. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Mermaid or MasterParser?
Choose Mermaid if you want the larger community (90,293 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose MasterParser if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.