UML, a modeling language

The Unified Modeling Language, UML, is becoming the one universal language of modeling. UML allows for standardized exchange from drafting functional schedules of conditions, to the work to be carried out by the architects and developers. Indeed, the unified notation defines numerous, easily read diagrams for respresenting different points of view in the modeling.

In a more general way, UML makes it possible to model:

• uses of case and scenarios (specifications, functional architecture);
• classes and objects (detailed technical analyses);
• the components (software architecture);
• distribution and the deployment (technical architecture).

Thus, each organization is free to choose the process which seems best suited to the type of applications being developed, the practices of its developers, or their level of maturity with objects. In fact, UML is not, strictly speaking, a method but rather a versatile support adaptable to many different development methods.

UML, a complete approach

All the phases of a project can be described with the unified notation. We use it to formalize all the decisions and choices relating to your project. The order of the operations can vary with the type of project, but generally, we follow the following steps:

• modeling the use cases defined with you, consisting of formalizing the schedule of conditions and the users' needs.
• modeling the classes, objects and components is done starting from the use cases of the application previously identified. Starting from the application functionality extracted form the use cases and identification of the functional components, it is necessary to represent the relationships between objects (class diagrams). Afterwards, it is necessary to define the use of objects in time (e.g. sequence diagram) to find the dynamics of the application.
  Moreover, component modeling makes it possible to make the system reusable; this aspect is really favored by the Java language and the concepts of Java Beans and Enterprise Java Beans.
• modeling distribution and deployment comes into its own in projects with distributed components, e.g. J2EE projects.

Note particularly that UML is a universal language that makes it possible for each actor to react and to express his own point of view, and to be understood by all the other actors.

SOFTEAM and UML

SOFTEAM is very involved in the standardization of UML within the OMG, and isregarded as one of the major actors in UML. Find out more about SOFTEAM and the OMG.

SOFTEAM is one of the main publishers of UML CASE tools, publishing Objecteering/UML.

SOFTEAM uses UML in all its development and would like to let you share its experience gained working with large companies, by assisting you in:

• analysis and design of your projects by using the UML notation
• the installation of UML in your organization
• the use of UML in developing your J2EE projects

The goal in using UML is to speed up the installation of your project. The standardization of the exchanges between the various parts of the process makes it possible to obtain the desired results more quickly. Moreover, partitioning the project into modules (functional, software and technical architectures) makes it possible to carry out tasks in parallel effectively.

To help you putting UML in place, SOFTEAM makes its expertise and its capitalization on experience available to you through its offers of Consulting, Training, Development and Products.