Re: [BLACKBOX] Modeling software

From: [at]} <Bob>
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:57:12 +0100

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> Every now and then I want to depict graphically the structure of my
> actual toy program in order to keep an overview. There exist several
> relations between parts of programs (module import, object inheritance,
> procedure call hierarchy and some more) and there exist large
> solutions:
> UML, SysML and probably some more (which I don't know).
>
> After a closer look at UML and SysML I began to doubt whether it is
> worth to learn such a complicated system. After all I don't want it as
> a
> base for a large software project with huge groups of developers, but
> only for a survey of relatively small programs (10-20 modules) in an
> advanced development state.
>
> Any thoughts? What do you use?
> --
> Frank Hrebabetzky +55 / 48 / 3235 1106
> Florianopolis, Brazil

there are numerous types of graph which people have used over the years to
design different types of program. "Software Design" by David Budgen gives
an excellent overview.

When I was a programmer I used a technique called JSP - Jackson Structured
Programming - which is a method of describing the sequence of inputs and
outputs, and combining them to produce a program structure. The graphical
technique uses decorated boxes and lines to show sequence, selection and
iteration, and is equivalent to EBNF.
<http://www.jacksonworkbench.co.uk/stevefergspages/jackson_methods/index.htm
l>

An equivalent graph that is better than Jackson diagrams for event-driven
programs is the statechart. Harel's original paper is a good source for
learning about them.

Statecharts are also excellent for designing the behaviour of user
interfaces.

For depicting module relationships I find dependency graphs very useful.

Inheritance is essentially the same thing as module dependency and for most
purposes a dependency graph is suitable. When I'm sketching ideas I tend to
use Venn diagrams. I don't usually do class diagrams unless someone's
holding a loaded gun at my head, but use the crow's foot notation instead.
If nesting the boxes becomes too messy I separate them and use an arrow to
show inheritance.

All of these things I sketch by hand first, then use Visio for the formal
documentation. I've found very few CASE tools, eg Rational Rose, to be
useful.

Bob

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Received on Sat Sep 17 2011 - 23:57:12 UTC