[Uml-devel] Fw: UML Modeller

[Paul Hensgen]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Taylor" <taylorjonl at hotmail.com>
To: <phensgen at users.sourceforge.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 11:08 PM
Subject: UML Modeller


> I am working on another project called OSSET wich is a set of open source
> software development tools.  It will include among other things a UML
> modeller, code generators, and IDE integration.  I want to separate the
> different systems allowing them to be run alone or in tandem.
>
> Right now I need to get the modeller portion going and am thinking maybee
> your project would be a good choice.  I don't want to reinvent the wheel
so
> if your project fits I will just integrate it as a subsystem in mine.
>
> I have a few questions and concerns first.  First I will ask questions
then
> state my concerns.
>
> 1.  Do you have any UML diagrams that I can view that will allow me to see
> your current architecture?
>
> Here are my concerns.
>
> 1.  It will only run on linux.  This is very important but I would also
like
> my tools to run on winbloze.  KDE uses QT and I think it could be written
to
> run on any QT platform.  A comment on this, I haven't been able to compile
> UML Modeller on my Caldera linux box.  Because I have no printer I have no
> kprinter.h file and the libs aren't compiled with printing support.
>
> 2.  I see that you will support code importing and generating.  I would
shy
> away from doing this in your modeller.  The best way to do this is when
your
> modeller supports XMI you can save the diagrams in XMI format and then
read
> the XMI file into a generator that interprets it then generates code.  To
> import a importing program will transform the code into an XMI file that
is
> read into your modeller.  This is the reason XMI is around and will
separate
> the responsibilities for the modeller/tools.
>
> Those are my questions and concerns.  I have done a lot of research on XMI
> and a few other OMG specs that I think are valid in a UML modeller, e.g.
> MOF, SPEM, UML Profiles.  I would be willing to work on XMI support for
UML
> modeller if it fits.  Even if it doesn't I am writing a XMI implementation
> called OpenXMI on sourceforge because I feel it is important to have a
open
> source XMI implementation that any tool writer can use.
>
> Now I will explain what I am looking for in a UML Modeller.  If you are
> willing to work with me maybee I could start development of a version 2,
> because my features would radically change your modeller.
>
> My modeller would be a strictly compliant UML modeller.  It will do
nothing
> more than read/write/modify UML models in XMI format.  It will follow the
> Model/View/Controller pattern to allow flexibility in many areas, e.g.
allow
> the integration into a suite of tools by separating the canvas, menu,
> toolbars and such into components whos layout can be adjusted to suite the
> needs of the application.
>
> It will be able to model more than just object oriented systems.  UML can
be
> used to model many different systems, e.g. a MetaObject Facility
model(MOF),
> a software process(SPEM), or even electronics.  You may not know this but
> UML is a MOF compliant metamodel.  UML can be used to model any MOF
> compliant model by using a UML Profile, which is a subset of UML.
>
> The tool will be customizable by reading a UML Profile and using the
profile
> to get the available model elements, semantics and contraints.  This will
> allow it to model and system that a UML Profile can be constructed from.
> For instance this will allow a developer to plug in a UML Profile for his
> language, e.g. Java.  As you know Java doesn't support multiple
inheritance
> so the UML Profile would be written to not allow this.
>
> It will support the Object Constraints Language.  This is in the UML
> specification and is used throughout the UML metamodel(MOF) to specify
> additional semantics that cannot be added any other way.
>
> CORBA support is something I am debating.  On the plus side it would allow
> the developer to modify a model that is located in a repository on a
remote
> server.  You can do this through a set of CORBA IDL interfaces that the
OMG
> and defined for modifying a UML model that is MOF compliant.  With CORBA,
> community development could be added to the modeller with minimal effort.
>
> Well that is my vision.  I would be willing to put forth the work if that
is
> your vision also.  The foundation for my set of tools is the UML Modeller
> and the above requirements are absolutely necessary.  The set of tools
will
> be designed to compete with Rationals set of tools.
>
> I will work up a set of rough UML diagrams for my project if you are
> interested in more info.  Right now I am at work on a machine that is too
> slow to do modelling so it will be a while before I can whip up the
models.
>
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