What is a good way to brainstorm algorithms on a computer?

Question

I'm looking for something that allows me to work out an algorithm on a computer similar to how I would do it on a whiteboard. At work, I have a huge whiteboard that I can use for this, but at home, I don't (and can't). This makes it difficult to design algorithms when I'm working on hobby projects. I think better when I use drawings as opposed to text, so pseudocode is no good. I guess what I'm looking for is something like a flowchart program, but that allows a less rigid approach to designing algorithms.

I'd like the program to be cross-platform (Mac, Linux), but I'll be happy even if it just runs on Macs. Free is preferred, but reasonably priced programs are good too. I would prefer programs that people have used and had experiences with, rather than whatever turned up on Google, as I know of some flowchart and mind-mapping software, but haven't really been satisfied with either. I realise that a computer isn't the best platform for doing this kind of stuff, but assume for a moment that it's the only medium I possess.

Answer 1

If I have to brainstorm some design stuff that takes more complexity than Notepad can cope with, I usually just use a pencil/pen and paper.

Answer 2

There is a sketch tool called Pencil Project that I saw by this days. This is a open source project that runs at FireFox or stand-alone, but no Mac version yet.

Here you can get other alternatives too. (provide by AlternativeTo service)

Maybe you find one that fits with your need.

Anyway, I prefer whiteboard to do this.

Answer 3

Livescribe might be a solution for you, aside from picking up a Bamboo or Intuous. Even though it is pen and paper, it can create PDFs of your writings/diagrams on the computer.

Answer 4

Windows Workflow Foundation allows you to brainstorm and develop algorithms in a flowchart way.

_{(source: windowsworkflowfoundation.eu)}