This book is written for students and developers who wish to master the essential skills and techniques in applying the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for software development. The reader will learn object-oriented analysis, design, and implementation using appropriate UML models, processes, techniques, and tools. Accompanying this book is the Community Edition of Visual Paradigm for UMP (VP-UML), an award-winning Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool, which allows the reader to put the theories learned into practice immediately.
The authors propose a novel framework for modeling and analysis called the View Alignment Techniques (VAT), which helps software developers create development methods. The Activity Analysis Approach (A3), which is particularly suited for the development of interaction-intensive systems, is described. These concepts have been well proven, as they were followed closely in the development of the VP-UML CASE tool.
Three chapters in this book describe structural, use case, and dynamic modeling and analysis techniques, together with practical tricks and tips that have been gained by the authors from many years of experience. Each of these three chapters includes a mini-case study which illustrates the unique from diagram to code concept in software development. In the final chapter, a major case study is included to help the reader reinforce the theories learned in previous chapters using VP-UML.
The key areas in object-oriented technology covered in the book include:
Requirements modeling using use cases: Identifying, capturing, and elaborating requirements.
Domain analysis for object identification: Building structural models for objects and their attributes and relationships.
Dynamic analysis and design: Building dynamic models, refining structural models, and making design decisions.
Implementation: Translating UML models into codes and implementations.
Method creation and the framework of VAT: Choosing the right UML models and customizing the design and analysis process.
A case study: Showing how A3 is put into practice, using VP-UML.
Curtis Tsang has extensive experience in object-oriented software engineering as an academic and a practitioner. He has participated in many major consultancy and R&D projects in the field. Currently, he is Principal Lecturer at the Institute of Vocational Education, where he founded the Object-Oriented Technology Centre. Dr Tsang is also the inventor of Visual Paradigm for UML, an international award-winning UML CASE tool. Dr Tsang received his doctorate in Computer Science from Sunderland University, UK.
Clarence Lau is a senior lecturer in the Department of Information and Communications Technology at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, and co-founder of the Object-Oriented Technology Centre. He has been involved in a number of major object-oriented technology projects, mostly as a consultant and in R&D. He helped develop Visual Paradigm for UML. Dr Lau received his doctorate in Computer Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Ying Leung has over 20 years experience as an academic in IT. His prime research is in human computer interaction, and he has a keen interest in object-oriented analysis and design. Dr Leung is Head of the Information & Communications Technology Department at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education. Dr Leung received his doctorate in Computer Science from Massey University, New Zealand.
