UML 2 for Dummies

UML 2 Toolkit

UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language, Third Edition

UML in Practice : The Art of Modeling Software Systems Demonstrated through Worked Examples and Solutions

Head First Design Patterns

Uml

UML Bible

Format: Paperback
Author: Tom Pender
ReleaseDate: 02 June, 2003
Publisher: Wiley
Rating:

Excellent book for medium to advanced UML users
I'm using this nearly exclusively to help me model projects, and is on my desk instead of on my bookshelf. The book is laid out very well, starting with a review of UML and provides thorough and detailed descriptions of all the diagrams and notations.

The author clearly understands UML and takes the reader effectively through the distinctions between the many notations.

Pluses
-Excellent description on the differences between UML 1. 4 and 2. 0, including completely different chapters where necessary
- Detailed descriptions of all the notations including less often used pieces
- Explicit definitions of key terms that limit confusion created from the "common understanding" of the definitions
- Excellent example that runs through the entire book, with appropriate departures to clarify points.
- Valuable introduction to the Object Constraint Language (OCL) and action semantics
- Most information that belongs in the appendix / late chapters is there (see below)

A few dings -

First, I would have to agree with Mr. Duff's comments on the target audience - I'm fairly experienced with Object Oriented programming and with design work, but when I tried to read this, I started getting confused and very sleepy. I started out with UML for Dummies and this made life much easier.

Second, the author included an early chapter and 50 pages throughout the book to the architecture and formal definition of UML. Frankly, I'm not sure who is really interested in the definition of the UML 1. 4 four layer architecture model and the UML 2. 0 superstructure library, but to me the bigger sin is to put it in chapter 2 instead of an appendix / later chapter. I didn't gain anything except a headache by reading about it earlier in the book.

Third, although he is very clear about it through the book, the version that I have came out before the final specification. This may cause some things to be different from his version to the final specification. However, he details those specifically, gives the likely outcomes, and the detailed areas are in the hinterlands of UML.

About as comprehensive a book as you can find on UML...
Like all 'Bible' titles from Wiley, this book covers a wide range of topics that should give you most any answer you need to find. If you are at all involved with the use of UML in your programming or analysis activities, you'll most likely be interested in seeing the UML Bible by Tom Pender (Wiley).

The chapter breakout is in seven parts:
Part 1 - An Introduction to UML - What Is UML?; UML Architecture; UML Diagrams and Extension Mechanisms; Object-Oriented Concepts
Part 2 - Modeling Object Structure - Capturing Rules about Objects in a Class Diagram; How to Capture Rules about Object Relationships; Testing With Objects
Part 3 - Modeling Object Interactions - Modeling Interactions in UML 1. 4; Modeling Interactions in UML 2. 0; Modeling an Object's Lifecycle in UML 1. 4; Modeling an Object's Lifecycle in UML 2. 0
Part 4 - Modeling Object Behavior - Modeling the Use of a System with the Use Case Diagram; Modeling Behavior Using an Activity Diagram
Part 5 - Modeling the Application Architecture - Using Packages; Modeling Software Using the Component Diagram; Using Deployment Diagrams in UML 1. 4; Using Deployment Diagrams in UML 2. 0
Part 6 - Bringing Rigor to the Model - Applying Constraints to the UML Diagrams; Action Semantics
Part 7 - Automating the UML Modeling Process - Using a Modeling Tool; Customizing UML Using Profiles; XML Metadata Interchange
Appendices - UML 1. 4 Notation Guide; UML 2. 0 Notation Guide; Standard Elements; Glossary; Index

Now, I'm not a UML expert by any stretch of the imagination. But based on what I have read and studied to date, this book covers everything. Taking the Use Case chapter as an example, I can see that there is an abundance of technical detail and diagramming to explain the topic completely. Couple this chapter with the notation guide in the back, and you have a reference guide that is hard to beat. At the time this book was written, UML 2. 0 wasn't yet released. But the author takes the specs that should be part of the final release and explains how those features are different than UML 1. 4. As a result, you shouldn't outgrow this book anytime soon.

The only quibble I have with the book is the audience that the author says he is targeting. Readers new to object-oriented analysis are expected to be able to get an in-depth understanding of UML and be able to become a productive member of a team by reading this book. In my opinion, that may be a bit of a reach. If I had no UML experience, I'd find this book very daunting in both the size and complexity of the material. My recommendation would be to find an entry level UML book, and work through it before tackling this book. With the UML fundamentals fresh in your mind, you'll be able to come at this book from a much better position and benefit much more quickly.

Overall, a good book to have around.

Most accurate and complete book on UML 2
Pender obviously read the
specifications carefully and took the time to explain them. This book is the clearest, most accurate, and complete book on
UML 2 that I'm aware of. It
provides many examples, and metamodels for tool developers. It
shows the differences between UML 1. x and UML 2, facilitating the
transition for existing users. It also has insights into issues
such as the relation between state machines and interactions, and
the role of activities in object-orientation. The advanced
reader can also find information about OCL, XMI, MDA, and UML
profiles defined by OMG. Colleagues have thanked me for
recommending it, one saying "that book is saving my %^&*$".
Congratulations to the author on very fine work.

Conrad Bock
Workgroup Lead for UML 2 Activities and Actions
U. S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
"The opinions expressed above do not reflect consensus of NIST,
and have not been reviewed by any Government authority. "
Search on "JOT UML 2" for more information.