If you have ever used tools for software engineering, you must be very familiar with three most popular players in this space – IBM, Borland and IDS Scheer AG, who have released Rational Rose, Together and ARIS, respectively.
Of course, there are many other vendors in the UML tools market. I shall introduce some of them in this article. While this is absolutely not a comprehensive list and a detailed portrayal would be beyond the scope of this article, I will present an evaluation of the tools to help ease your decision-making process.
Popular UML Tools
The following are some of the most popular UML tools:
IBM Rational Rose Enterprise Edition: First, some criticism – this visual modeling tool stands for constancy across different releases of the product. It seems that nothing much has changed, since the introductory 1998 version, from either a visual or tool perspective. While change is, to a great extent, a matter of taste, the pros and cons of such development is rather evident. The IBM Rational Rose tool, with all its efficiency and manifold functions, has striking weaknesses in its condition and efficiency. IBM has acted wisely by allowing this tool to catch up with competing products and give it a real-time look-and-feel, which it was sorely lacking.
While the advantages of using UML tools are well-known, there is also a need for support, before and after the program development (through waiting intervals, tests, etc.). IBM seems to have realised these problems, and is now offering corresponding tools for different pre- and post-modeling tasks, which enhance the IBM Rational Rose Enterprise Edition’s performance. The service is definitely quick and easy.
You can take the IBM Rational Rose Enterprise Edition for a test drive, by registering and downloading it. This can easily take up half a CD’s space! Official records claim that the program occupies half a Gigabyte, which is suitable for its performance level and supportability on different development platforms.
Fig. 1: The GUI of Rational Rose Enterprise Edition
Borland Together Architecture: You can start downloading the hefty package upon receiving the key in your email, after registration. This product is certainly not suitable for modem users with a 140MB capacity!
The visual feel of Together resembles that of IBM Rational Rose. However, be determined to focus on the task and whiz through the learning curve as modeling efficiency with UML may lull you into being charmed with this screen over IBM’s UML tool. This is because the complexity is not made evident initially. UML is, to put it mildly, not simple. If you are not careful with the transfer of pencil-paper drawings of class diagrams, it is easy to land in a mess of dialogue boxes, index tabs, and text application fields. Even so, by using tools, work can progress uninterruptedly and intuitively, so long as you do not deviate too much from the routine UML work.
Fig. 2: Borland Together Architecture with a C# project and source code advertisement
Together Architecture supports platform-independence. Hence, corresponding source code will be directly generated for diverse programming languages and platforms (from Java to various languages for the Microsoft .NET framework like C# and C++). The result of modeling work can be examined with a mouse click in the source code and modified promptly.
IDS Scheer ARIS UML Designer: You would not miss any UML functionality in ARIS. On the contrary, users often wonder whether the multiple functions and complexity of process modeling are secure.
The grasp on the ARIS Database is an important advantage for UML Designer. Moreover, the course of action is not only unidirectional. Deviations from process modeling with the UML can be identified similar to the realisation of modeling with UML (for example, with use cases), and be merged with ARIS. The various steps from process modeling to UML are automated and monitored constantly.
Unfortunately, no trial version of ARIS UML Designer is available, only a PDF file documentation of several pages is offered after you register on a paper form.
Others
Popular tools aside, there are more diverse tools in the market, which are working to further the complexity and sphere of UML activity that the mentioned products have yet to attain.
Gentleware Poseidon for UML Professional Edition: Like others, Poseidon for UML is also not entirely enterprise-favourable as the Enterprise Edition costs US,990. Fortunately, the Professional Edition is sufficient for most applications. Do take a close look at the feature lists (besides the obligatory thorough testing of the program).
The tool itself is relatively intuitive, although it borrows ideas from Borland Together and IBM Rational Rose, and appealing (see Fig. 3). It can also be quickly adapted for use with a Java program of normal project sizes.
Fig. 3: Gentleware Poseidon in action – use case view
MagicDraw UML 9.0: MagicDraw UML 9.0 includes the scope of functionality required for daily modeling with UML. Besides, a similarity to IBM Rational Rose or Together is not visible initially.
The Java-based tool borrows from IBM Rational Rose in its service. Although the operations in a few cases are similar, it does not impair the program as a whole. Moreover, MagicDraw UML 9.0 is far more economical when compared to its counterparts from IBM; the Professional Edition for C#, C++ or Java is priced at US. The evaluation license is valid for three months. Test the tool thoroughly during this period, although the restrictions (the limit on pattern classes, for instance) may shorten the need for a prolonged testing period.
Fig. 4: Sequence diagram in MagicDraw UML 9.0
microTOOL objectiF (for Visual Studio .NET): While other tools can be attended in one window, microTOOL, with its objectives, reside on a different window, where the tools can be positioned arbitrarily. The difference in user control has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a user with multiple windows open may lose the entire view. However, in collaboration with other tools, and with sufficient space on the desktop, these variants can be used to accomplish real wonder. You can see the required diagrams constantly or at least get to them with a single click. objectiF for Visual Studio for .NET integrates well with the Microsoft product and makes it possible to modify and compile the source code designed from the UML diagrams directly. Of course, the reverse is also possible, so the work on program/model can occur simultaneously.
Fig. 5: The Objective UI for .NET
Embarcadero Describe Enterprise: Describe Enterprise serves you the tools required for your daily work with a mere mouse click. Although the visuals remind you of IBM Rational Rose, the product is quick to dispense with its services. Moreover, Describe Enterprise offers the possibility to keep you engaged directly in the preferable development environment. At the time of writing, Sun ONE Studio, Borland's JBuilder, IBM WebSphere Studio, and Eclipse are all supported. Those who prefer other development environments should be satisfied with the Describe Enterprise. Although C++, C#, and Visual Basic are supported in Describe Enterprise, the focus is on the development of products that offer direct Java support.
Apart from functional service modeling with UML and the ability to switch to the desired programming language (and back into the diagram), Describe Enterprise also offers other domain extensions, which work easily on large projects. The support for design patterns is exemplary (typically for the well-known EJB version) and it also ties up with different version tools like Microsoft SourceSafe, Borland StarTeam, and CVS. The extension offers enhanced competence, since simple clicks on the diagrams can destroy a whole project, if the changes end carelessly or automatically in the source code.
The ER/Studio product, from the same family, is a database development tool. While it offers few standard possibilities of data descriptions, it is not of much help in large projects, where databases with complex table structures are required. This only reflects how bad data designing can fail a well-planned application with well-understood structures.
Using the Describe design tool together with the ER/Studio database modeling tool can ease things. A free, 65MB download can be tested for 30 days, provided you register yourself in advance.
Aonix Ameos: This comes with a small Fact Sheet (PDF format) and a cost-free test-download (35MB after the obligatory registration).
To begin with, Ameos is more visually appealing than rivaling products. However, as I continued down the testing lane, I realised that with every task (to make class diagrams available, for instance), a new Ameos application is started, with a corresponding surface to suit the share aspect of UML modeling. Your work is further slackened when you are prompted to enter the registration date for each new window that opens. Fortunately, this disturbing 'nag screen’ will not be present in the registered full version.
Working in Ameos is perhaps simpler, owing to the partition in different function-dependent configured windows. Ameos provides easy access to the functions when needed, as opposed to other products that try to keep all functions ready permanently, resulting in unnecessary entanglement.
Conclusion
In any case, modeling with UML Tools is supposed to draw in a lot of money. You have seen that there is a vast spectrum of tools available for UML modeling from this article. You can choose a tool based on the requirements of your daily work. With regards to user control and zest for learning, the new products are relatively more advanced as compared to previous releases, although they suffer from the same drawbacks as the latter. Hence, ensure that you register and test a product before making a purchasing decision. One thing is for sure – there is a lot of money to be made by modeling with UML tools!
Links & Literature
• Aonix Ameos: www.aonix.de/ameos.html
• Borland Together: www.borland.com/together
• Embarcadero Describe: www.embarcadero.com/products/describe/
• Gentleware Poseidon for UML: www.gentleware.com
• IBM Rational Rose: www-306.ibm.com/software/rational/
• IDS Scheer UML Designer: www.aris.com
• MagicDraw UML 9.0: www.magicdraw.com
• microTOOL objectiF: www.microtool.de/objectif/de/
• MID Innovator: www.mid.de/de/innovator/
• Objecteering UML: www.objecteering.com/products.php
• Telelogic TAU: www.telelogic.com/index.cfm
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