Ted Johnson on Programming & Architecture

Connecting UML Components with the Ball and Socket notation in Rational Software Modeler (RSM/RSA) and Eclipse UML2 Tools is not fully implemented or flawed. Too fully understand my point you have to keep in mind that these tools are for modeling, not just drawing a picture/diagram. Thus the internal model representation of what you diagram must be correct and complete. The Need: I discovered this issue while trying to design a suitable domain specific language/model for architects to talk about systems and what interfaces/data connections they had between them. The users understand components, so our systems were components. Additionally, interfaces at a high level make sense for being an "agreed upon" contract of interaction between systems. So, the components will realize the interfaces or > them to show providing and consumption between the systems. The figure below shows two examples of this. If you look closely at the diagram you will note that the ball and soc...

I have to admit that I am lured into the pocket size form factor used by O'Reilly and others. The cute baby animals on the cover, like the gorilla on the front of the " UML 2.0 - Pocket Reference " is just fun. I also have " The Elements of UML Style " in the same easy to consume and not really pocket sized size. Parts of this review also apply to both pocket books, but the majority is about the UML 2.0 - Pocket Reference. If you do actually end up bringing this "pocket" reference around with you then great, but consider when will you actually use it. While you are walking around the park thinking about UML and all of its confusing details? This book only covers syntax and usage, not really semantics which is where most people struggle anyhow, as the semantics and detailed syntax consume over 1000 pages. You could bring it to meetings and wow people with perfect diagrams. Again, this book might help with that, but how often are you drawing a di...

The short lesson: When looking at eclipse features dig deep and work off the website and examples. Books are outdated quickly and are often written to just the major usage of a package or feature. Never be to proud to use the eclipse project specific mailing list. The story: Whenever I take time off work, I invariably take on creating some new thing or read a technical book, basically just go down a rabbit hole of some kind as much of my day to day work requires abstraction from the details and hands on coding. The Christmas 2009 break is no different. This time I dug a little deeper than I normally do with eclipse and plug-ins. I have been creating an eclipse plug-in to import UML objects from an outside server which houses use cases, requirements, and test cases. I figure why copy and paste or manually sync them which you can have a wizard done. Great so after a COM Bridge, EMF Transactions, UML Profile, and a shovel I have an import working. I did not do this in a vacuum, ...

I like most people, I suspect, especially software architects and programmers, dream of white boards on every wall floor to ceiling. I have wanted this for some time for my office so I could doodle hours away in my office getting dizzy on the dry erase fumes. In the past I had looked for a quality product and failed, until now. Visiting my undergraduate college ( St. Olaf ) the computer science for it's brand new shared building has for entire rooms painted a white board surface onto the walls. STUNNING! Want to convey an idea, design a group project, doodle, noodle, or whatever, just walk up to a wall. I hope it holds up and I hope to get around to painting my office soon. I think they are using one of the more expensive products, IdeaBoard , but I am emailing the school to double check. Finally a canvas large enough to hold all of the crazy UML diagrams and brainstorms.

Martin Fowler and Markus Völter on DSLs - JAOO Conference Somewhat interesting discussion by some DSL leaders. There is a small bias around a specific vendor's software, but interesting to listen too. What they talked about, my notes: DSLs: - Internal - External - IDE/Language Workbench - MDA is vaporware Eclipse GMF/EMF/Textual Languages CASE Tools, COBOL, Fantasy that programmers are not needed. Levels of DSL/DSM tooling - Documentation/Testing/Execution Custom Syntax (External DSL) vs Internal Syntax (Internal DSL , Lisp/Ruby) Method Chaining, Cool! 1 notation or many notations (Excel, Boxes and Lines, etc) Power in how to combine the notations. Divergence, Experimentation, and then Convergence. UML is not a factor, so they think. Here is the book in progress that Martin Fowler references, it was in draft form at time of my writing this post. Fowler's DSL book draft

I have followed the DSM (Domain specific modeling) happenings online for sometime now and at best the community is scattered and most discussions/happenings limited to conferences. However, the DSMForum.org pulls this information together for easy consumption. Don't be fooled by the dated last century website design, all nerdy modeling website look that way. The DSM Publications page provides the best set of links for DSMs on the web, including podcast, conferences, and papers. Dispite one of the co-founders working for MetaCase a tool I am not currently focusing I found their coverage not too biased. The tools page they provide is nearly accurate, playing down eclipse and rational contributions a little bit, but the list represents the major players to my knowledge. RSM/RSA now has a UML Profile Tooling capability and eclipse GMF has beta WYSISYG editor the list could use rework, but a minor complaint. They also have a Linked-in group, although it is not that active.

I am voting earth , this blog post is my digital post for balance. You don't have to eat grass and walk to work to be green. Tonight I will go for a walk at 8:30 once the lights are turned off and then play cards, heck I won't have to code/program. I enjoy life, and I do it smart, they are not XOR or mutually exclusive. The phrase reduce, reuse, recycle is in order for a reason. 1. Reduce your consumption: If a person were to buy an H2 Hummer maintain it and drive it for a life time it would be better for the environment than a person who buys a new hybrid every time it comes out. The most expensive part of a car environmentally is typically its construction, assuming it is maintained (ya know keeps a muffler). I buy quality items that will last a long time so I am buying fewer things. I also make an effort to buy fewer things in general, less to clutter my house and the landfills. Like tonight at 8:30 I am turning the lights/heater out. Don't accept the free print...