---
name: "dotty"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "graphviz"
version: "2.42.4-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dotty"
---

# dotty(1)

A Customizable Graph Editor

## NAME

dotty - A Customizable Graph Editor

## SYNOPSIS

**dotty** \[ **-V** \] \[ **-lm***mode* \] \[ **-el***lev* \] \[ *file* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**dotty** is a graph editor for the X Window System.  It may be run as a standalone editor, or as a front end for applications that use graphs.  It can control multiple windows viewing different graphs.

**dotty** is written on top of **dot** and **lefty**. **lefty** is a general-purpose programmable editor for technical pictures.  It has an interpretive programming language similar to AWK and C.  The user interface and graph editing operations of **dotty** are written as **lefty** functions. Programmer-defined graph operations may be loaded as well.  Graph layouts are made by **dot**, which runs as a separate process that communicates with **lefty** through pipes.

If the input graph contains xdot attributes, **dotty** will use that to display the graph. Otherwise, it runs **dot** to obtain layout information.

## USAGE

The file name is optional. If present, the graph contained in that file is displayed in the **dotty** window.

## OPTIONS

- **-V**

  Prints the version.

- **-lm***mode*

  Sets the layout mode. The *mode* can be **sync** or **async**. The default is **async**.

- **-el***lev*

  Sets the mesage level. The *lev* can be **0** or **1**. The default is **0**.

## BUGS

The lefty parser does not accept anonymous graphs.

## SEE ALSO

[dot(1)](/dot/1.md), [lefty(1)](/lefty/1.md), [lneato(1)](/lneato/1.md), [xdot(3)](/xdot/3.md)\
 *dotty* user guide.