Steve at fivetrees <steve@nospamtafivetrees.com> wrote:
> 
> Similarly, can anyone recommend a UML class design/diagram/modelling 
> utility? A colleague has been using Artisan to this end, but is looking for 
> alternatives. All suggestions welcomed.


Enterprise Architect is cheap, cheerful and OK for most use. I've used
ArgoUML before and didn't like it.

Rhapsody and Rose are too damn heavyweight, too bureaucratic, too
clunky.

I was very, very impressed by Telelogic's System Architect. It's far
more interactive then Rhapsody and gives you a much more organic feel
for how an architecture is evolving. But it's pricy.

pete
-- 
pete@fenelon.com "he just stuck to buying beer and pointing at other stuff"

"David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote in message 
news:xcM6h.46081$gN5.23221@fe167.usenetserver.com...
> What is everyone using to capture software designs?
>
> I'm looking for data-flow diagrams, state machine charts, combinational 
> logic tables, etc.
>
> I'd like to try out a few tools.  Using LaTeX and a PostScript-capable 
> graphics package is wearing me out.
>
> Any recommendations?

Similarly, can anyone recommend a UML class design/diagram/modelling 
utility? A colleague has been using Artisan to this end, but is looking for 
alternatives. All suggestions welcomed.

Steve
http://www.fivetrees.com 

David T. Ashley wrote:
> What is everyone using to capture software designs?

At work: A quad-ruled computation notebook, written in ink, signed,
dated and witnessed on each page. Once I've sketched out initial
algorithms, etc. on paper, I go off and implement the software. I
number the boxes and states on paper and reference those numbers in the
comments of the software. If I make changes to the logic, I document
those temporarily on scrap paper. Once the software is ready for alpha
test, I create design review diagrams of the actual software using the
draw module of OpenOffice.org. I convert those to PDF for distribution
to reviewers. Those materials are then archived along with the s/w
release to which they pertain.

At home: Exact same thing, without the witness signatures.

VC <chopra_vikram@excite.com> wrote:
> 
> If you want to flowcharts/state diagrams, then I think Visual Thought

I have never, *ever* wanted flow charts. Ever.

pete
-- 
pete@fenelon.com "he just stuck to buying beer and pointing at other stuff"

Use DIA if you just want diagrams.
Use argouml.tigris.org if you:

1) Can live with UML only

2) Want a bit more annotation and structure to the diagrams

Both the above tools are open source, cross platform, free, and work
well.

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:08:15 +0000, Paul E. Bennett wrote:

> Seriously though, you could waste enormous amounts of time trying to produce
> perfect diagrams with some of these tools and miss the essential aspects of
> what it is you are supposed to be analysing and resolving into some
> structured semblance of a solution.

In addition, these tools also add inertia to the design process:

"oh, if I make this change to the software, I need to update our diagrams"

If the documentation is really comprehensive, procrastination can
turn into ostrich like head in sand ;-) 

Some documentation is important, but you can take it too far. I use open
office, because I steer away from too many drawings. I have seen UML used
in a project, and in terms of effort/usefulness, it wasn't pretty,
although some of the diagrams were.

Regards,

Paul.

Pete Fenelon wrote:
> David T. Ashley <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:
> > What is everyone using to capture software designs?
> >
> > I'm looking for data-flow diagrams, state machine charts, combinational
> > logic tables, etc.
>
> I use a whiteboard, some coloured markers and a digital camera most
> of the time, and Enterprise Architect if there's no alternative ;)
>
> pete
> --
> pete@fenelon.com "he just stuck to buying beer and pointing at other stuff"

If you want to flowcharts/state diagrams, then I think Visual Thought
might work for you -
http://tersesystems.com/vt14/

HTH.

David T. Ashley <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:
> What is everyone using to capture software designs?
> 
> I'm looking for data-flow diagrams, state machine charts, combinational 
> logic tables, etc.

I use a whiteboard, some coloured markers and a digital camera most
of the time, and Enterprise Architect if there's no alternative ;)

pete
-- 
pete@fenelon.com "he just stuck to buying beer and pointing at other stuff"

David T. Ashley wrote:

> What is everyone using to capture software designs?
> 
> I'm looking for data-flow diagrams, state machine charts, combinational
> logic tables, etc.
> 
> I'd like to try out a few tools.  Using LaTeX and a PostScript-capable
> graphics package is wearing me out.
> 
> Any recommendations?

Pentel 0.7, and Stencil Set ;>

Seriously though, you could waste enormous amounts of time trying to produce
perfect diagrams with some of these tools and miss the essential aspects of
what it is you are supposed to be analysing and resolving into some
structured semblance of a solution.

If you are going to ask if I really do still use pencil and paper then I am
happy to answer in the affirmative. If I need to draw any diagrams neatly
then I have found that there are plenty of very capable drawing packages
out there which will do just the drawing aspect extremely well. They won't
provide the logical links automatically though.

I know you are going to get a whole host of people with UML based tools
which may do you very well so long as your pockets are deep enough. You
could possibly look at Rhapsody or Statemate from I-Logix (you will see
what I mean about needing very deep pockets).

There are free tools around but I wouldn't vouch for their useability or
quality though as I don't use any of them (I have only seen an extensive
demo of the I-Logix stuff). See <http://www.visual-paradigm.com/> for one
of the free ones.

-- 
********************************************************************
Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@amleth.demon.co.uk>
Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/>
Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972
Tel: +44 (0)1235-811095
Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk..
********************************************************************

"David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:xcM6h.46081$gN5.23221@fe167.usenetserver.com...
> What is everyone using to capture software designs?
>
> I'm looking for data-flow diagrams, state machine charts, combinational 
> logic tables, etc.

Take a look at DIA, http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/

-- 
simone.bern
Mr. Heisemberg is not the only one who can affect a measurement by looking 
at it (Robert A. Pease)