UML (Unified Modeling Language)
(Free Web Tutorials)

by Michael Thomas
(created May 2008)

Unified Modeling Language ( UML ) is a graphical language for the modeling and developing of software systems.  The UML diagrams become a common work product developers use to discuss all phases of software development from requirements analysis, design, implementation and maintenance.  The goal here is to model the software system before you build it.  Here is a list of some of UML diagrams: Use Case Diagram, Class Diagram, Object Diagram, Statechart Diagram, Activity Diagram, Interaction Diagrams (Sequence diagram & Collaboration diagram), Component Diagram, Deployment Diagram.  Use UML to model application structure, behavior, and architecture, but also business process and data structure.

( Home Page: Free Web Tutorials on Java & Web Technologies )

Free Download

• Download - a zip file of the website pertaining to this topic (all content, tutorials, examples, etc...).  Great resource!!!  Work offline!!!
  (Note:  All of the Eclipse projects are in .zip files located at: uml\eclipse\viewonly .  Just extract them into your workspace.)

Free Web Tutorials

• UML Overview Tutorials

  • UML Overview (Free Web Tutorials) - overview of UML

  • UML Diagram: Use Case (Free Web Tutorials) - overview of the Use Case diagram.

  • UML Diagram: Class (Free Web Tutorials) - overview of the Class diagram.

  • UML Diagram: Sequence (Free Web Tutorials) - overview of the Sequence diagram.

  • Partially Completed

    • UML Diagram: Activity (Free Web Tutorials) - overview of the Activity diagram.

    • UML Diagram: Timing (Free Web Tutorials)

• UML Tools

  • Under Construction

    • http://www.umlet.com/ (as of 04/07/2011)

    • mdt-uml2-runtime-3.1.2.zip

    • eUML2 free edition 3.6 (as of 04/07/2011) - UML 2.1 compliant, Eclipse Helios compliant, JDK 1.5 support, Eclipse Versions: 3.5.x/3.6.x - could not find the download/install button!

    • http://www.visual-paradigm.com/solution/freeumltool/?src=google&kw=uml&mt=&net=d&plc=marketplace.eclipse.org&gclid=COXnmMTGiqgCFapl7AodB2uHDg

  • EclipseUML - Omondo - First Steps (Free Web Tutorials) - download and install EclipseUML by Omondo, then take your first steps.

  • GenMyModel - http://www.genmymodel.com

    • Current features:
      - Class diagrams and use case diagrams, UML2 compliant
      - Model export as PDF, UML and XMI files
      - Code generation: Java beans, Spring Data Rest, Spring Roo
    • Coming soon:
      - Real-time collaboration
      - Other UML diagrams (activity, sequence)
      - API for user’s generators

• Topics for future UML Tutorials I'd like to create:
  etc...

UML Resources

• OMG (Object Management Group) - non-profit consortium which defines and maintains UML specifications.
  • www.omg.com or www.omg.org  - OMG's Home page
    • www.uml.org - OMG's UML home page.
    • www.omg.org/gettingstarted/what_is_uml.htm - Introduction to OMG's UML
    • www.omg.org/technology/documents/modeling_spec_catalog.htm#UML - OMG's UML specifications.
      • As of UML2.1.2 (11/04/07 ) - (2 PDF: 738pgs + 224pgs = 962pgs )
        Beginning with UML 2.0, the UML Specification was split into two complimentary specifications: Infrastructure and Superstructure. The UML infrastructure specification defines the foundational language constructs required for UML 2.1.2. It is complemented by UML Superstructure, which defines the user level constructs required for UML 2.1.2. The two complementary specifications constitute a complete specification for the UML 2 modeling language.
    • http://uml-directory.omg.org/ - vendor listing.
• UML Forum - http://uml-forum.com - a web community dedicated to UML.
• UML Tools/Products (Resources) - web page with a list of vendors, products, etc...
  Visit this page if your looking for UML Tools!
• http://www.vogella.de/articles/UML/article.html - UML with Eclipse Tutorial - Lars Vogel - Version 1.1 - based on Eclipse 3.5
   

UML Certification

• OCUP (OMG-Certified UML Professional) -
  • http://www.omg.org/uml-certification - Home Page - click on "Exam Info" for details about the 3 levels.
  • 3 Levels: Fundamental, Intermediate and Advanced

Software Development Life Cycle Methodologies

• Agile
  • www.agilemodeling.com/artifacts
• Agile SCRUM
• SEI (Software Engineering Institute) -
  • http://www.sei.cmu.edu/str/descriptions/ooanalysis.html
  • http://www.sei.cmu.edu/str/descriptions/oodesign.html

Tutorials by Other Companies

• EclipseUML by Omondo - www.eclipseuml.com
  • Tutorials - www.eclipseuml.com - click "Home", "Tutorials". The "EclipseUML live demonstrations" has visual w/audio.
• http://dn.codegear.com/article/31863 - Code Gear from Borland.
• http://umlcenter.visual-paradigm.com - UML Tool (Visual Paradigm for UML) - Below the UML resources is the tutorial links.

Book Resources

• UML Distilled 3rd Edition (covers UML2.0) - by Martin Fowler - a best seller - great book to read!!!
• UML2 Certification Guide, by Tim Weilkiens & Bernd Oestereich, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2007
• Popular Arthurs
  • Martin Fowler - www.martinfowler.com - "UML Distilled 3rd Edition" a best seller.
  • UML2 - Alistair Cockburn - www.alistair.cockburn.us - author for several books on Agile Software Development & "Use Cases".
  • UML - "Three Amigos" (Grady Booch, Ivar Jacobson and James Rumbaugh)