SUMLOW: early design‐stage sketching of UML diagrams on an E‐whiteboard

Most visual diagramming tools provide point‐and‐click construction of computer‐drawn diagram elements using a conventional desktop computer and mouse. SUMLOW is a unified modelling language (UML) diagramming tool that uses an electronic whiteboard (E‐whiteboard) and sketching‐based user interface to support collaborative software design. SUMLOW allows designers to sketch UML constructs, mixing different UML diagram elements, diagram annotations, and hand‐drawn text. A key novelty of the tool is the preservation of hand‐drawn diagrams and support for manipulation of these sketches using pen‐based actions. Sketched diagrams can be automatically ‘formalized’ into computer‐recognized and ‐drawn UML diagrams and then exported to a third party CASE tool for further extension and use. We describe the motivation for SUMLOW, illustrate the use of the tool to sketch various UML diagram types, describe its key architecture abstractions and implementation approaches, and report on two evaluations of the toolset. We hope that our experiences will be useful for others developing sketching‐based design tools or those looking to leverage pen‐based interfaces in software applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Initial Experimental Assessment of the Dynamic Modelling in UML

The goal of this empirical study is to compare the semantic comprehension of three different notations for representing the dynamic behaviour in unified modelling language (UML): (a) sequence diagrams, (b) collaboration diagrams, and (c) state diagrams. Eighteen students of Informatics analysed the three types of diagrams within three different application domains. We performed a 3 × 3 factorial experimental design with repeated measures. The metrics collected were total time and total score. The main conclusion of this study is that the comprehension of the dynamic modelling in object-oriented designs depends on the diagram type and on the complexity of the document. The software project design written in the UML notation is more comprehensible, when the dynamic behaviour is modelled in a sequence diagram. While if it is implemented using a collaboration diagram, the design turns out to be less comprehensible as the application domain, and consequently, the document is more complex.     

Integrating Process and Project Management for Multi-Site Software Development

Recent advances in information technology have made Internet-based collaboration much easier. It is now possible for a software team to draw on talented developers from around the world without the need to gather them together physically. However, being able to tap into a large pool of talent does not guarantee success. Software managers have to be able to manage these distributed teams. They need to define sharper processes and ensure that they are followed. They also need to better control project execution. To do so effectively, we have developed a tool that integrates features for both project and process management. Existing project management tools were originally designed for projects on a single site. Many of them do not provide the features necessary to support cooperative multi-site software projects or process management. We have developed a tool, called IPPM, which supports these features. IPPM, which integrates features for process and project management, resolves differences between existing project and process tools, and provides a number of unique features to support multi-site development. IPPM has been implemented and used by several development teams working in different regions in Hong Kong and Mainland China.     

基于UML活动图的测试研究进展

UML活动图不再是状态图的特例,它作为一种独立的模型广泛用于软件的行为建模.基于UML活动图的测试受到业界的普遍欢迎.然而从UML活动图自动生成完整的测试场景\用例成为一个难点.本文对基于UML活动图的测试进行了比较分析,总结了几种从UML活动图生成测试场景\用例的方法及其使用的算法,即反蚂蚁Agent方法、灰盒方法、自适应细菌Agent方法和系统的形式化方法.对这些方法进行了分析与比较,指出一些不足之处.最后对UML活动图测试的发展趋势做了一些展望.     

一种UML 软件架构性能预测方法及其自动化研究

软件性能需求作为软件质量需求的重要组成部分,已受到人们极大的重视.而只在软件开发周期后期才重点关注软件性能需求的传统软件开发方法,将给开发者带来高风险和高成本等后果.如果能在软件开发周期的早期对软件系统性能进行预测,可以提前发现软件系统架构存在的性能瓶颈,并找出可能的优化方案,对各种设计方案进行比较以得出最优的软件系统架构.研究了一种基于模型的UML 软件架构性能预测方法:该方法选取软件架构设计中的UML 用例图、活动图和构件图,并引入构造型和标记值,将它们扩展为UML SPT 模型;进而,通过转换算法将UML SPT 模型转换为排队网络模型,该算法可处理同时包含分支节点和汇合节点的UML 模型活动图;最后,利用频域分析理论求解排队网络模型,以得出性能参数及性能瓶颈.同时介绍了UML 软件架构性能自动化工具的设计方案,并给出了软件架构性能预测实例.     

带时间约束的UML序列图的分析工具

统一建模语言(UML)是一种多用途的可视化建模语言,它可用于软件系统的规约、可视化的构造和建档.UML序列图描述了交互对象间的协作,如在实时和分布式系统中通讯实体间的信息交互.与其它的规约和设计过程类似,UML序列图的规约也易出错,所以对它进行分析是很有必要的.文章描述了一个对带时间约束的UML序列图进行分析的工具.     

由序列图合成状态图

序列图和状态图对于描述和理解面向对象软件系统有着极其重要的作用。符合UML标准的序列图和状态图存在信息重叠，根据序列图提供的信息可以合成状态图。给出了在Rational Rose中由序列图合成状态图工具的实现。     

基于UML的Web商务平台的开发方法

统一建模语言UML是一种面向对象的软件开发方法,它融合了软件工程领域的新思想、新方法和新技术。本文用UML设计了一个Web商务平台,并用支持UML的建模工具--RationalRose Enterprise Edition实现了该Web商务平台。本文给出了Web商务平台的需求分析-用例图,Web商务平台的详细设计--序列图、活动图和类图,以及Web商务平台的实现--
组件图和布局图。UML作为标准建模语言,支持从系统需求分析开始的软件开发全过程,它使系统各开发团队能够较容易地沟通,从而增强了整个系统开发过程的可控性,加快了
系统的开发速度,提高了软件质量。     

基于UML的软件使用模型的研究与实现

UML作为事实上的工业标准,在软件开发中得到了日益广泛的应用。软件可靠性测试是高可靠软件质量保证的重要过程。研究基于UML的软件可靠性测试具有很强的现实意义。软件使用模型是进行软件可靠性测试的基础,可利用在软件开发早期阶段生成的UML模型,如用况图、顺序图、活动图,自动生成软件使用模型。     

基于UML的软件Markov链使用模型构造研究

软件统计测试要求基于软件使用模型产生测试例对软件系统进行测试,并根据测试结果评价软件可靠性,是高可靠软件测试的重要组成部分.由于统一建模语言(unified modeling language,简称UML)已经成为事实上的面向对象标准建模语言,因此,从软件UML模型构造软件使用模型就成为面向对象软件统计测试的关键.为此,定义了加入统计测试约束的UML用例图、序列图以及用例执行顺序关系,为基于UML的软件统计测试提供了一个形式化描述基础.在此基础上,给出一个从软件UML模型构造软件Markov链使用模型的算法,并给出了自动化支持工具UMGen的类图结构,基于一个卫星控制系统,说明了所提出方法的有效性.     

Decomposition of UML activity diagrams

In software engineering, UML activity diagrams in general can be useful for a modeling system functional behavior, ranging from the sequences of activities/actions from business processes within an organization or among organizations down to the detail of an algorithm. The stepwise refinement process makes activity diagrams more and more complex. To guarantee the behavior consistency and correctness under refinement, the activity diagrams must be decomposed according to the divide‐and‐conquer strategy. Traditional decomposition methods adopt manual techniques and cannot ensure the independence and completeness of the obtained subdiagrams. In this paper, a novel decomposition approach is proposed, which can automatically divide an activity diagram into atomic and correct subdiagrams (subdiagrams without abnormal behavioral problems) at the same level. When such an activity diagram specifies the whole functional behavior of a software system, the approach can in fact decompose a system into multiple atomic subsystems. Every atomic subsystem is a completely independent system. It may be independently developed, independently tested, and independently deployed. The method facilitates the management, development, and maintenance of a software system. With the help of a prototype tool, a case study demonstrates the decomposition method.     

基于UML的软件使用模型生成技术研究

软件可靠性测试是高可靠软件质量保证的重要过程，而软件使用模型则是进行软件可靠性测试的基础。UML(Unified Modeling Language)作为事实上的工业标准，在软件开发中得到了日益广泛的应用。研究基于UML的软件可靠性测试具有很强的现实意义。利用在软件开发早期阶段生成的UML模型，如用例图、顺序图、活动图，可以生成软件使用模型，进而可据此产生测试用例。     

基于UML图和不同粒度切片的回归测试研究

针对面向对象软件回归测试的新特点,本文引入了基于UML图的不同粒度切片。首先,对描述类间关系的UML类图和描述状态变迁关系的UML状态图形式化定义。接着,对定义的图进行切片分析,其中类间测试提出一种基于UML类图的粗粒度切片工具;类内测试提出一种基于UML状态图细粒度切片的方法。最后,将其应用于销售订单系统,结果表明以上两种分析方法可以有效地提高回归测试效率。     

Enabling Collaboration in Distributed Requirements Management

Requirements management, one of the most collaboration-intensive activities in software development, presents significant difficulties when stakeholders are distributed, as in today's global projects. After a review of requirements management in current work practices, the authors describe EGRET, a collaborative requirements management tool for distributed software development teams. They present their design motivations for EGRET, a preliminary evaluation of its usability, and directions for further enhancement. This article is part of a special issue on Global Software Development.     

UMLTGF:一个基于灰盒方法从UML活动图生成测试用例的工具

UML已经成为建模语言的事实标准，如何从UML分析设计模型生成测试用例也为面向对象软件测试带来了新的挑战．为了从UML设计模型中的活动图直接生成测试用例，给出了UML活动图的形式化定义和灰盒测试方法．该方法首先分析UML活动图上的所有执行路径（每条路径称为一个测试场景），然后根据测试场景中的节点和转换所代表的活动及其输入／输出变量、相关约束条件等生成测试用例．并根据该方法实现了一个自动生成测试用例的工具UMLTGF，它可以从Rational Rose的规约文件中提取活动图信息并生成相应的测试用例．该工具能够提高软件测试的效率，降低测试成本．     

CDADE: Conflict detector in activity diagram evolution based on speech act and ontology

Software system user requirements tend to change and evolve over time. The UML activity diagrams are a useful language for modeling system processes. Additionally, designers must often maintain activity diagrams incrementally. This paper presents the CDADE tool, which can help designers detect conflicts in activity diagram evolution. The CDADE tool is composed of ontologies, metadata, and conflict detection rules. Speech act theory is used to reveal evolutionary change in the activity diagrams. The CDADE prototype and a case study of electronic commerce are presented to demonstrate and validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the CDADE tool.     

UML2．0顺序图的XYZ／E时序逻辑语义研究

UML2．0顺序图适合于描述软件体系结构的各个组件之间和复合组件内部各个子组件之间的动态交互行为，但由于UML2．0顺序图的语义不够精确，使得它的描述结果不利于进一步的分析和验证。基于此，本文在定义UML2．0顺序图的语法和语法约束的基础上，给出了UML2．0顺序图的XYZ／E时序逻辑语义，为使用UML2．0顺序图与XYZ／E相结合的方式来描述软件体系结构的动态交互行为奠定了基础。     

A measurement method for sizing the structure of UML sequence diagrams

ContextThe COSMIC functional size measurement method on UML diagrams has been investigated as a means to estimate the software effort early in the software development life cycle. Like other functional size measurement methods, the COSMIC method takes into account the data movements in the UML sequence diagrams for example, but does not consider the data manipulations in the control structure. This paper explores software sizing at a finer level of granularity by taking into account the structural aspect of a sequence diagram in order to quantify its structural size. These functional and structural sizes can then be used as distinct independent variables to improve effort estimation models.ObjectiveThe objective is to design an improved measurement of the size of the UML sequence diagrams by taking into account the data manipulations represented by the structure of the sequence diagram, which will be referred to as their structural size.MethodWhile the design of COSMIC defines the functional size of a functional process at a high level of granularity (i.e. the data movements), the structural size of a sequence diagram is defined at a finer level of granularity: the size of the flow graph of their control structure described through the alt, opt and loop constructs. This new measurement method was designed by following the process recommended in Software Metrics and Software Metrology (Abran, 2010).ResultsThe size of sequence diagrams can now be measured from two perspectives, both functional and structural, and at different levels of granularity with distinct measurement units.ConclusionIt is now feasible to measure the size of functional requirements at two levels of granularity: at an abstract level, the software functional size can be measured in terms of COSMIC Function Point (CFP) units; and at a detailed level, the software structural size can be measured in terms of Control Structure Manipulation (CSM) units. These measures represent complementary aspects of software size and can be used as distinct independent variables to improve effort estimation models.     

基于UML的人力资源管理系统的分析设计

以人力资源管理系统（HR）为对象，利用Rational Rose建模工具，通过用例图、活动图、顺序图以及类图等分析设计模型进行分析设计，介绍了UML在实际项目开发中的应用。