From: Dmitri Colebatch <dim@...>
Date: 2003-01-14T14:18:43+09:00
Subject: Re: UML tool for Linux?

My uninvited 2c:

Tim Bates wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Jan 2003 03:23 pm, Phil Tomson wrote:
> 
>>What good is UML?  I mean, it seems to me that especially with languages
>>like Ruby you could just code your OO system and then refactor as needed.
> 
> I haven't actually used UML before, which is why I'm only just looking for 
> software for it. The reason is, I come from a strong engineering background 
> (father was an engineer, I'm now studying engineering myself) and as such I 
> find it helpful (sometimes even necessary) to get my ideas on paper, draw 
> diagrams etc. 

I find exactly the same thing - I go through forests of paper just 
scribbling static class diagrams when modelling problems.  But I dont 
use any tools, and wouldn't suggest them to anyone (I'd also be 
interested to hear of reasons for using them).

 > I'm currently trying to get my head around the relationships
> between a significant number of classes and modules. Being a fairly visual 
> person, I want diagrams, but rather than try and do it with conventional 
> pen-and-paper methods, and end up as I usually do with lots of lines and 
> scribble and crossings-out, I thought I'd give UML a shot. 

Remember that UML is a language, not a process (as I understand it). 
The process of taking UML and generating code is a proprietory thing. 
Having said that, I know of a java tool called uml2ejb (I think its 
http://uml2ejb.sf.net) that could easily output Ruby code if you wanted 
  to go that way.  Note that this (afaik) doesn't actually generate the 
UML for you.

 > It's designed for
> this sort of thing and has the advantage that I can check it into CVS along 
> with the code... It may work, it may not.

what then happens when you change the code?  you have uml in cvs with 
one design and code with another.... unless you're going to be the first 
person I've come into contact who actually does go back and update the 
UML...

cheers
dim