Good tools for UML..

[Hussein Baghdadi]

Hey all.
what do you think about argoUML tool ? is it good ?
any good (and free) tools for UML ?
thanks.

[Ilja Preuss]

Depends on what you want to do. I still typically prefer a white board.

[Edwin Keeton]

Easel pads and sticky notes.

[Scott Ambler]

Simple tools are usually the best ones. See http://www.agilemodeling.com/essays/inclusiveModels.htm#SimpleTools .

- Scott

[Edwin Keeton]

ArgoUml is a nice, simple tool. If you like it, the commercial version, Poseidon, has a free community edition. Other good ones with community editions are VisualParadigm and MagicDraw. There are some others that also are goo that I can't think of right now.

Domain modeling sessions are best using low-tech tools. As much as I enjoy wanking with a UML tool, they tend to get in the way of the flow of a modeling session. I tend to use the tools only to "pretty up" the hand drawn diagrams. And even this can be dangerous because there is a tendency to "translate" and this may introduce an artifact that wasn't agreed on by the modeling group, and in fact is wrong.

[Maxim Katcharov]

What's the biggest problem problem that people have found with using computer based modeling tools?

Personally, I've found that they obviousley arent built to be used by a team the biggest problem. They don't allow non-standard drawings. And they're pretty small on he screen.

On the other hand, they are much cleaner. I use jude for light diagramming.

[Ilja Preuss]

Originally posted by Maxim Katcharov:
What's the biggest problem problem that people have found with using computer based modeling tools?

Personally, I've found that they obviousley arent built to be used by a team the biggest problem. They don't allow non-standard drawings. And they're pretty small on he screen.

Agreed with all three notions. Actually I don't know of a tool that supports the full UML standard.

[Axel Janssen]

Originally posted by Maxim Katcharov:
What's the biggest problem problem that people have found with using computer based modeling tools?

I've tried to start with Rational Rose 2002 with good intentions (though I knew the warnings):
- importing standard Java classes results in a prohibitive startup time.
- user interface not in synch with modern usability standards. Lot of standard tasks were not easy to find.
- it might have been my lack of experience, but I haven't found it very stable. One model became (at least for me) irreperably broken. How I am going to entrust to base everything via roundtrip engineering on Rose, if it shows such behaviour.

Maybe I should spend some Rose 201 weekends with myself or try to convince my boss that spending those x000 Euro for Rational training CDs or trainings is a wise investment (not going to do that).

Originally posted by Maxim Katcharov:

On the other hand, they are much cleaner. I use jude for light diagramming.

I have experienced the same. I am traditionally very bad in drawing by hand.
Jude is an easy and quick tool from usability standpoint and has a very flat learning curve.
Jude creates png or jpeg of the models.

[ October 06, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]
[ October 06, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]

[Sanjaya Sugiarto]

Gentleware's Poseidon Community Edition is, in my opinion, the best UML tool for your pocket. It supports UML 2.0 and it's free.

Visit: http://www.gentleware.com/products/

Or Borland's Together Community Edition:
http://www.borland.com/products/downloads/download_together.html (the drawback: it supports only UML 1.x)