Are the UML modelling tools powerful enough for practitioners? A literature review. Issue 5 (1st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozkaya, Mert
• Is Part Of: IET software. Volume 13:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 338
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2019-10-01
• Subjects: XML -- Unified Modeling Language -- program compilers -- Java -- software tools -- formal verification; UML modelling tools -- Unified Modelling Language -- modelling software systems -- modelling tasks -- 58 UML tools -- modelling viewpoints -- tool integration -- 11 UML tools -- 17 tools -- viewpoint management -- 6 tools support project management -- tool developers -- code generation -- UML models; Computer software -- Periodicals; Software engineering -- Periodicals; 005.1
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-sen.2018.5409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8806

Abstract

Abstract : Unified Modelling Language (UML) is essentially a de‐facto standard for software modeling and supported with many modeling tools. In this study, 58 UML tools have been analysed for modelling viewpoints, analysis, transformation & export, collaboration, tool integration, scripting, project management, and knowledge management. The analysis results reveal important findings: (i) 11 UML tools support multiple viewpoints, (ii) 17 tools support large‐viewpoint management, (iii) Umple and Reactive Blocks support formal verification, (iv) 9 tools support the simulation of activity diagrams, (v) while 14 tools check pre‐defined well‐formedness rules, 8 of them support user‐defined rules, (vi) 16 tools support scripting, (vii) 29 tools support code‐generation and 18 of them support round‐trip engineering, (viii) Java is the top popular language, (ix) 38 tools export UML models as image, 32 tools export as HTML, and 32 tools export as XML/XMI, (x) 17 tools enable versioning and 13 of them support multi‐user access, (xi) 15 tools support the plug‐in extensions and 12 tools support the IDE integration, (xii) 6 tools support project management, and (xiii) while most tools provide user‐manuals, interactive guidance is rarely supported. The results will be helpful for practitioners in choosing the right tool(s) and the tool developers in determining the weaknesses/strengths.