UML for Mere Mortals®

Good Beginnings

Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” However, if you are going a thousand miles, that first step better be in the right direction. The following topics will help you set your direction, decide your priorities, and choose good traveling companions.

The Elephant

Remember the old joke that asks, “How do you eat an elephant?” (answer: “One spoonful at a time.”)? Just as that joke suggests, adopting the UML is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You do not have to know the entire UML to be able to use it. Remember, according to Booch, Rumbaugh, and Jacobson, “You can model 80 percent of most problems by using about 20 percent of the UML.” [BOOCH1]

So, where do you start using UML on your projects? ...