What UML Tool(s) are you using for SCEA Beta Part II?

Hi all,

Just want to get an idea of what tools (preferably free) that you are using for SCEA Beta Part II?

I am using ArgoUML but it only supports UML 1.4. Would this be a problem? I don't think I am going to use any feature in UML 2.0 but I understand that there are some differences between the naming convention used between 1.4 and 2.0.

What is the expectation? Will UML 1.4 suffice?

Sun don't state that we must use UML 2.0, so I think we can use UML 1.4.

I am using Jude Community with UML 1.4.

I'm using NetBeans 5.5. It has a quite nice UML tool.

I'm using Together Architect, it is very nice to work with after spending so long working with Rational Rose.

Before that I used Enterprise Architect which was also pretty good (actually, astounding for the money)

Jude Community.

I tried IBM Rational Software Architect, but resigned after 1 day of testing :-) Right now I'm testing Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, seems to be quite cool.

IBM Rational Software Architect (RSA)

I'm actually doing a dual indoctrination here. I'm not only indoctrinating myself int he SCEA 5 beta exam, but I'm trying to do it using RSA.

I consider myself an old pro with IBM's Rational Application Developer (IRAD), but am new to the RSA modelling features. So, I'm going to try and do as much as I can using the tool.

There seems to be some neat modelling features, such as looking at an object model and having it automatically apply patterns and such. Still, I don't believe there's much support for JEE 5 features, as IBM still hasn't decided if they want to release a WebSphere 7 product and support JEE 5.

If I don't pass part 2, at least I'll have IBM and Rational as the throat to choke.

-Cameron McKenzie

Hi .
Used RSA for a while (while at work )and it really has some wonderful features (such as generation of UML documentation for code) but it is really too expensive for private use

and I have let's say a commitment to open source .
On the open source I am oscilating between Umbrello (Linux only which I used so far ) and StarUML which people use around here and offers also nice features.
Just curious ... anybody ever used Umbrello to do his/her SCEA assignment ?

The one that comes with Netbeans 5.5.1 is really good, and I love the feature of reverse engineering from code to create the sequence diagram... I know some UML tools, but this is the first tool I see that have that kind of reverse eng.... and its

.

Imagine yourself, after a good design, then some code changes during the test phase makes your sequence diagram invalid... and then... you must change it by hand in order to keep it syncronized... with this tool just click "reverse eng." and puff!!! you have the sequence diagram for that method!

But, for the part II I'm using a mix, some parts in Netbeans UML tool, and others in Jude (just because the component diagram does not have the shapes exactly as the standard used in Cade's book).

How about StarUML ?

Anybody using it ?

I like StarUML a lot. It has an extensive feature set for an open source tool. I plan to use it for part II.

I'm using Poseidon Community 5.0. (fortunately, it is UML 2.0 compliant)

I am using StartUML for my Part 2. I find it very intuitive and easy to use..

I previously tried RSM (Rational Software Modeler) but it was just too memory intensive.

I also looked at Netbeans 6 and was very happy with it, but the components in the component diagram didn't look like the typical UML construct for the components. I guess it would have been ok since the tool is from Sun.. but why take a risk..

Earlier I had looked at ArgoUML but decided that StarUML was much better and more intuitive.

so.. long story short.. StarUML it is!

I have to admit there are much more choices for UML tools on a Windows environment compare to Mac or Linux. I am working my part 2 on a Mac so using Visual Paradigm UML tool and take screenshots for the diagram.....Not ideal but it seems working fine as long as the diagram doesn't get too large that cannot fit into one page

Apparently, Sun used MagicDraw to do the certification.

Which UML Tool Did Sun Use

I guess that's as good as a UML tool to use as any.

-Cameron McKenzie

Originally posted by Cameron McKenzie:
Apparently, Sun used MagicDraw to do the certification.

Which UML Tool Did Sun Use

I guess that's as good as a UML tool to use as any.

-Cameron McKenzie

You should try MagicDraw, it's a very good UML tool

I saw this one today but have never tried it:

UMLet - http://www.umlet.com/

Anyone have any opinions on it?

I'm using netbeans6

Originally posted by Doug Porter:
I saw this one today but have never tried it:

UMLet - http://www.umlet.com/

Anyone have any opinions on it?

I'm trying UMLet right now. It's not real fancy but it seems very easy to use. I'll post back after using it for a while.

Originally posted by Sergey Vlasov:
I'm using NetBeans 5.5. It has a quite nice UML tool.

I can't see any UML tool in NetBeans 5.5.1. Do we need a plugin for it?

Thanks!

I don't know NetBeans 5.5 but try NetBeans6 - in full version it contains UML tool. It's quite nice. Before I used Visio :/, Argo and RAD7

Hi,

The Netbean 5.5 or 5.5.1 does not come with default UML module Yo have to download from netbean web site.

Thanks

I got NetBeans 6.0 for it. But the images (fonts inside diagram) are not visible.

I've been using Poseidon, but there are some very annoying and demotivating geometry bugs. The class falls of the original "viewport", and then it starts to disappear when you mouse over it. Other annoyances about it: you can't place components within nodes, and components are rendered with both <<component>> in addition to the redundant visual cue. I'm running out of time and starting to regret my decision to use Poseidon.

I downloaded an evaluation copy of MagicDraw, but the evaluation limitation of 20-25 objects makes it hard for me to imagine it will suit my purposes, and the price is so steep! Do I want to pay $150-$350 for something which may or may not itself suit my purposes?

We're starting to do more design at work, so I'm starting to push around for better tools. Apparently others in the parent corporation are using Sparx Enterprise Architect (windows software?), and we might have some perpetuity licenses for Rational Rose laying around collecting dust from years back.. In any case, I don't think we'll be moving on anything before 5 days.

I'm downloading Netbeans-6 right now, but I'm not holding my breath. I think whatever I end up using, will ultimately feel like settling on the best of worse evils.

I used StarUML and found that it was quite good overall.

James,
I know how you feel. I tried the UML tool for NetBeans 6.0 and was OK until I tried to modify a Class diagram I'd previously saved. I wanted to add an association from one class to another but when I clicked on the diagram it inserted a new Class. I thought it might be an issue because I was using Release Candidate 2, but was able to replicate it with the 6.0 GA.

I looked as StarUML and MagicDraw, but I'm going with a 30-day eval of Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems. It seems pretty easy to work with and the diagrams look OK too.

One warning, don't try to import something you've done in another system to a project that you've already added diagrams to - the imported data will completely replace anything in the project. It tells you about that in the Help docs, but there's no reminder when you go to do it.

The good news is that it supports Subversion so you can keep multiple revisions of your work.

Good Luck!
Burk

One major problem with NetBeans UML tool is, there is nothing for 'Undo' and 'Redo'.

I am doing it with Microsoft Visio.

As an update, I gave up on IBM's RSA and switched to StarUML. I have both tools open on my desktop, but one gets much more work.

-Cameron McKenzie

There is no actor symbol in StarUML and Jude Community for sequence diagram.

I use my hands

Hi rathi ji,

I used <<Actor>> stereotype to show it as an Actor in the sequence diagram.

Regards
Lawrence

I'm trying with NetBeans 6.0 -- I didn't know about the font issues, but things seem to be going OK so far. The round trip engineering is helpful to make sure I don't forget anything and helps me get things jump-started as well. I haven't used it much, but it's similar enough to IntelliJ, so it's pretty easy to figure out.

I did notice that the association relationships aren't forward-engineered correctly, but that can be coped with. :-)

I'm just glad Enterprise Java isn't as complicated as it used to be!

Cheers,
Jim

Hi rathi ji,

I used <<Actor>> stereotype to show it as an Actor in the sequence diagram.

Regards
Lawrence

I've given up on Poseidon. Besides the geometry bugs, it just seemed like there were too many bells and whistles I wanted to use which weren't available. For example, when composing my deployment model, the only UML symbol which I could place within a node was another node. and I wanted components within my nodes.

I've switched to Sparx Enterprise Architect which is looking very handsome right now.

Originally posted by Lawrence Johnbosco:
Hi rathi ji,

I used <<Actor>> stereotype to show it as an Actor in the sequence diagram.

Regards
Lawrence

You can drag and drop the actor from your use case diagram to sequence.

Oops. I hadn't noticed until just now that the trial version of Sparx Enterprise Architect displays a watermark, "EA 7.0 Unregistered Trial Version" all across and down each image I export. Either I need to be ok with turning in something so ugly, or certification is now more expensive than I had hoped.

Originally posted by James Jurach:
Oops. I hadn't noticed until just now that the trial version of Sparx Enterprise Architect displays a watermark...

This is a nice piece of software; I think my company will be buying a few copies of it soon, but if I can't make that happen within these next 2 days, at least I've figured out the following for the context of completing this assignment.

This seems a little dirty, so I'll be sure to credit this software in the text of the assignment.
[ December 09, 2007: Message edited by: James Jurach ]

Originally posted by James Jurach:
Oops. I hadn't noticed until just now that the trial version of Sparx Enterprise Architect displays a watermark, "EA 7.0 Unregistered Trial Version" all across and down each image I export. Either I need to be ok with turning in something so ugly, or certification is now more expensive than I had hoped.

They won't decrease your scores because of this, I believe