Does anyone know if this is a thing?

[MadMojoMonkey]

Sorry in advance for ambiguous title. Read on:

I'm looking for a GUI that allows me to create various bubbles (fields, circles, whatever) and put text in them.
I want to be able to draw lines (make connections, whatever) between the bubbles, showing associations.
I want to be able to move the bubbles around, while preserving the line connections so that I can untangle the mess that develops.

I remember watching someone play a game like this when I was in college. It started with all these circles that were linked in a tangled mess. The goal was to rearrange the circles so that none of the lines overlap.

In my applications, eliminating overlap is not important, but the mechanic by which the circles/bubbles move while retaining their links is what I'm after.

I don't know if this has a name, or anything. I don't know how to search for it.

The "smart art" features in MS Word don't quite get there.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[eugmac]

First thing that came to mind: https://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle

Unfortunately a Mac-only app. I don't know if an equivalent for PC exists, but surely it does.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Ugh. I'm really hoping to find one for free. I don't have professional uses for this, it's just a little project and I've thought of it before for another project (lol. tracking associations in the WW games).

[MadMojoMonkey]

Thank you, eugmac.

https://www.draw.io/

I found it by scanning for keywords in your document and using google.

[a500lbgorilla]

Yup, Visio

[BooG690]

Ugh. I'm really hoping to find one for free. I don't have professional uses for this, it's just a little project and I've thought of it before for another project (lol. tracking associations in the WW games).

You're good for the game since this would probably influence others to step up their game as well. Not me, I'll remain a shit villager, but I imagine others.

[spoonitnow]

I think FreeMind is what you're looking for.

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download

[bjsaust]

There are some free visio replacements online, just google for it. Can't remember off-hand, but I know I looked into one. It didn't have the capabilities I was after, but would suit what you want fine.