The Unified Modeling Language (UML) promises to make object-oriented modeling a lot more accessible for software developers. UML brings together popular modeling languages by the so-called "three amigos" (Grady Booch, James Rumbaugh, and Ivar Jacobson) under an open standard and UML Toolkit can help you use it for your next software development project. The authors detail the dozen or so diagrams available in UML, which feature use-case modeling, class diagrams, dynamic models (including state diagrams), and physical models (which outline the components inside your system and how they will be deployed). They also discuss extensions to UML (through "stereotypes") and document how well UML is actually implemented in today's computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. The book includes sample implementations of modeling diagrams, written in Java, for most chapters, and the accompanying CD-ROM contains a trial version of the CASE tool Rational Rose.
In addition to outlining the essentials of modeling techniques, the authors do a good job of placing UML in context with other models. They provide a short tour of the software engineering process and tell users who are familiar with the Booch and Rational Objectory methods how to move over to UML. This section compares the diagramming symbols used in each method and discusses patterns--a hot topic in object-oriented design--and how they can be modeled using UML.
The book closes with a useful (though brief) case study of a computer system for a small library, which gives the reader a flavor of how to use UML in the field. With enough depth for the expert and enough simplicity for the novice, UML Toolkit serves as a fine one-volume introduction to the brave new world of UML.
