Tools used for diagramming architechture

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

So I've just been boarded onto a critical project and I need to draw up some diagrams of project architecture in Java.. in particular, the relationships between the classes and external databases.

I've looked at UML Tools in the past and I didn't really like it because it took a lot of effort to put it together and didn't really communicate much to a not-so-technical management team.

Are there any other tools that would do a better job? If not, then I'd like to hear suggestions on UML tools.

Thanks.

 

[chronodekar]

I will insist that you stick with UML. If you must avoid it because it's too complicated (should not be, for a programmer) then use a sub-set of it. Using anything else, will more likely lead to confusion among your programming staff later on.

I use Visio 2003. Its good enough to get the point across. Now if you are looking at something that will let you convert between UML and Java code, you need something else. ( I know tools like that should exist, but I've not done Java in a while, so I'm a bit rusty on the topic )

From my bookmarks I've fished this out, perhaps you could find some use for it ?

Star UML

EDIT:

Nearly missed this one too (it can be used for Java)

UML Graph

 

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

Originally posted by: chronodekar
I will insist that you stick with UML. If you must avoid it because it's too complicated (should not be, for a programmer) then use a sub-set of it. Using anything else, will more likely lead to confusion among your programming staff later on.

I use Visio 2003. Its good enough to get the point across. Now if you are looking at something that will let you convert between UML and Java code, you need something else. ( I know tools like that should exist, but I've not done Java in a while, so I'm a bit rusty on the topic )

From my bookmarks I've fished this out, perhaps you could find some use for it ?

Star UML

EDIT:

Nearly missed this one too (it can be used for Java)

UML Graph

Thanks. I'm downloading StarUML now. I guess its because I'm not too familiar with UML. Do you have any resource recommendations?

Hey, I see your from my hometown in India... cool!

 

[mundane]

I used ArgoUML a few years ago, and I feel fairly indifferent about it.

 

[pkananen]

look at Together. Not cheap, but it's live source.

 

[chronodekar]

I guess its because I'm not too familiar with UML. Do you have any resource recommendations?

Ask the guy who maintains the Free Resources Thread, and you will get a bite!

Hmmm... let me start by giving the links,

http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/31863
I like this one. They closely follow the official UML specifications and the language is pretty straight forward. Should get you up to speed quickly.

http://www.visualcase.com/tutorials/uml-tutorial.htm
These guys have an interest to promote their software, so the figures are a bit different from what an experienced UML developer might expect, but from what I can tell, it's just asthetics, so shouldn't be too much of a problem. In fact, the language seems a bit easier to understand too. (I prefer the first link as I feel it's better to start using the proper notations from the start, but each to one's own)

http://www.vtc.com/products/UML_tutorials.htm
Here is a bunch of video tutorials. If you're into that kind of thing. Their contents seem to cover a lot, but after listening to 3 - 4 mins of 2 vids, I got sleepy. A dull and boring voice if you ask me, but, then again, it's free. :roll:

http://uml-tutorials.trireme.com/
Now, if you want detail, a lot of history and complicated words (I'm talking to the professor out there! ) , then this is for you. However, if you want to convince someone that UML is too complicated and difficult, then this is what you should show them.

You mention that you are not too familiar with UML. That sounds like you're trying to pick this up on your own. Good for you! It's the way, I'm learning it too. To any newbies out there, the steepness of the learning curve can be flattened CONSIDERABLY if you do some programming with people who already know UML. Unlike a language, UML is a general purpose programming tool. Not a language in itself. It's meant to to be used to convey ideas & structure in a graphical format.


What that means to most people, is unlike a language, the rewards won't start coming in until AFTER you are done with a project or 2. But the effort it saves down the line is worth the effort you put to learning it. Trust me.



Hmmm... I need to bookmark all this. I'll add it in my next update to the References thread.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg
Hey, I see your from my hometown in India... cool!

You stay around here (in Kochi)? Perhaps we could meet up?

 

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

Originally posted by: chronodekar

Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg
Hey, I see your from my hometown in India... cool!

You stay around here (in Kochi)? Perhaps we could meet up?

Thanks for all your help. I'm really digging StartUML. I'm using it to create class diagrams but its like a lot of trouble when you could just code out the skeletons in Java and reverse engineer them from there.

No, actually, I work in the US but I'm actually coming there for vacation soon.

Kochile' yevidaa thamisum?

 

[Markbnj]

Like chrono I use Visio 2003, just because it's accessible and supports all the usual UML diagram types. However, I understand your initial point, and I think it may have been missed in the subsequent conversation.

I've looked at UML Tools in the past and I didn't really like it because it took a lot of effort to put it together and didn't really communicate much to a not-so-technical management team.

Absolutely true on both counts. It does take a lot of effort to create and maintain models, and models are not useful for communicating to non-technical business customers. Or at least, they are about as useful as architectural blueprints in discussing construction projects with, say, homebuyers. That is, you can point out salient features and then discuss them, but your customers are never going to get the model as a whole, and frankly I don't think these models were intended for their consumption.

Use cases are a much more consumer-friendly depiction of what a system is going to do, and to a great extent you can say that if the customer is happy with the use cases, they shouldn't care about the model.

Overall I am fairly cool on modelling. It's an attempt to make software systems comprehensible, and to some extent it works, but the models themselves often become an end in themselves, requiring a fair amount of work to keep consistent and relevant, without providing a lot of benefit once construction starts. For me they are primarily brainstorming tools.

 

[ethebubbeth]

The community version of Jude is what we use in my classes at ASU for UML projects. You can download it here: http://jude.change-vision.com/jude-web/index.html. The only other thing I've used for UML is Visio, and that was horrific.

 

[chronodekar]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
but the models themselves often become an end in themselves, requiring a fair amount of work to keep consistent and relevant, without providing a lot of benefit once construction starts. For me they are primarily brainstorming tools.

Very true. Currently, I depend on Viso2003, but I'm trying to migrate to something that will work both directions. i.e. a UML tool that will update itself when I make changes to code and code that changes itself when I draw the UML. (The idea being, maintaining it should be a piece of cake, but I'm yet to verify it myself)

Visual Studio 2005 professional has something close to this in C#. I think they call it the class diagrammer or something.