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Education software · Case study

Mind Manager.

A browser client for .mmap mind maps: open, explore and edit MindManager-format maps on the web, with crisp SVG rendering at any zoom level.

Client: Singapore education company
Industry: Education software

Services: Development
Delivery: Magora London
Domain: Education software

Built by Magora

This Mind Manager project was designed and built by Magora. We are a London software development company (since 2010) building education and e-learning software for UK businesses, from a free working prototype to launch and support.

Education software development → Free working prototype in 5–10 days

01 / Brief

Client & context

A Singapore-based company working in education needed a team to build a mind-mapping project. Mind maps are used widely in teaching and learning, and the client's users already had maps in the .mmap format used by MindManager.

The challenge

Users needed to open, view and edit those maps in a web browser, without desktop software. Mind maps can be large, with many nested branches and attached resources, and they have to stay readable when zoomed in or out.

02 / Solution

What we built

.mmap import - the client loads a file, parses it and displays topics with their associated resources.
SVG rendering - topics and the connections between them are drawn as SVG, so the map stays sharp at any scale.
Editing - drag and drop topics and branches, fold and unfold them, scale and move the viewport.
Resources - users can download and view the files attached to each topic.
Saving - changes are saved straight from the application.

Process & timeline

The hardest part was faithful parsing of the file format, so we built against a set of real client maps from the start and checked rendering against the desktop software.

03 / Result

Results

The client's users could work with their existing mind maps in any browser, with no desktop licence needed to view or edit them.

Users could open, explore and edit their existing maps on any computer, with no desktop licence needed just to view them.

At our current rates, a build of this scope would cost about £15–30k — an estimate from the feature list, not the original invoice.

If we built it today

Today we would add real-time collaboration on a map, export to PDF and image, and accessibility features such as keyboard navigation and screen-reader support for teaching use. A first release of a product like this typically takes 6–8 weeks; our rates start from £49/hour per developer, and £65–£70/hour for a full team with QA and product ownership. Discovery starts from £3,000.

Building something similar? See our education software development services, or estimate your project in the cost calculator.

Project facts

Mind Manager, at a glance.

Browser-based viewer and editor for MindManager (.mmap) mind maps

Client

Singapore education company

Sector

Education: mind mapping

Platforms

Web browser

Scope

Features: .mmap import, SVG rendering, drag-and-drop editing, fold/unfold branches, downloadable topic resources, saving

Estimated cost

£15–30k

Magora's own estimate from the feature list, published on this case page at current rates; not the original invoice

Results

Users can open, explore and edit existing mind maps in any browser with no desktop licence.

ServicesDevelopment

— Tech stack

Built with what holds up at scale.

SVG Drag and drop

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