UML is very powerful modeling language.[1] We can develop many diagrams using UML and provide users with a ready-to-use, expressive modeling examples. UML can be applied in many areas like embedded systems, web applications, commercial applications etc. Some UML tools generate program language code from UML[2] and produces bug-free, deployable applications that run quickly if the code generator incorporates best-practice scalable patterns. UML can be used for modeling the whole system independent of platform language. UML is a graphical language for visualizing, specifying, constructing, and documenting information about software-intensive system.[3] The UML gives us a standard way to write a system's view, covering conceptual things such as business processes and system functions, as well as things like classes written in a specific programming language, database schemas, and reusable software components. Because of large community of software developer's it is necessary to understand importance of modeling, its applications and use of UML to make software development process more efficient.
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UML has been used effectively in following areas
The UML can also be used to model nonsoftware systems, such as workflow in the legal system, a patient healthcare system, software engineering in aircraft combat systems, and the design of hardware.[3]
Below is the list of the UML diagrams and their functionalities in short for understanding their applications in real life examples.
Structuring diagrams show a view of an system that shows the structure of the objects, including their classifiers, relationships, attributes and operations . Few structure diagrams are..
Behaviour diagrams are used to illustrate the behavior of a system, they are used extensively to describe the functionality of software systems. Few Behaviour diagrams are
Let us take the example of restaurant to understand how UML will be used to implement restaurant system. Here wait staff take order and serve food to patron. Then patron eat food, drink wine and pay bill. In this diagram patron, chef, cashier and wait staff are actors. Using this UML diagram one can understand the working of that restaurant. So use case diagrams from UML are very useful to understand real time systems.
Interaction diagrams are subset of behaviour diagrams and emphasize the flow of control and data among the things in the system being modelled:
Software in embedded systems design needs to be looked carefully for software specification and analysis. Unified Modeling Language (UML), and a number of extension proposals in the realtime domain can be used for the development of new design flows. UML can be used for specification, design and implementation of modern embedded systems. UML can be used for modelling the system from functional requirements through executable specifications and for that purpose it is important to be able to model the context for an embedded system – both environmental and user-driven.[5] Some key terms of UML related to embedded systems:
Object Oriented Design and Analysis-[1]