UML Demystified [Paperback]

Paul Kimmel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 007226182X | ISBN-13: 978-0072261820 | Publication Date: October 21, 2005 | Edition: 1

There’s no easier, faster, or more practical way to learn the really tough subjects

UML Demystified explains how to read, model, and use UML to create well-structured, stable software products. This self-teaching guide comes complete with key points, background information, quizzes at the end of each chapter, and even a final exam. Simple enough for beginners but challenging enough for advanced students, this is a lively and entertaining brush-up, introductory text, or classroom supplement.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The fast and easy way to learn UML

Get started using UML in no time using this easy-to-follow guide. UML Demystified shows you how to visually plan, develop, and analyze software projects with this powerful modeling language. Step-by-step instructions with lots of examples help you learn quickly.

You’ll begin by learning the basics of UML. Then you’ll get details on use cases, activity diagrams, interaction diagrams, class diagrams, statecharts, components, and deployment diagrams. Featuring end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam, this book will have you programming in UML right away.

Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, UML Demystified is your shortcut to mastering this powerful software modeling language.

This one-of-a-kind, self-teaching text offers:

• An easy way to understand UML
• A quiz at the end of each chapter
• A final exam at the end of the book
• No unnecessary technical jargon
• A time-saving approach

About the Author

Paul Kimmel (Okemos, MI) is the Chief Architect and a founder for Software Conceptions, Inc. He has been designing and implementing object-oriented software since 1990 and has a dozen or more years of experience with modeling languages and was an early adopter of the Unified Modeling Language. Paul has helped design and implement solutions using the UML for some of the larges coporations in the world from International Banks, Multinational Telecommunications companies, Logistics and Shipping companies, Department of Defense agencies and national and international governmental groups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (October 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007226182X
• ISBN-13: 978-0072261820
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > UML

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a all-too-often painful subject approachable..., December 17, 2005

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: UML Demystified (Paperback)

Let's face it... Reading a book on UML in far too many cases is akin to poking your eye with a sharp stick. You only feel good when you stop. Therefore, any book that can make the whole subject of UML more readable has my commendations. And UML DeMystified by Paul Kimmel falls into this category...

Contents: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Lines of Code; Start at the Beginning with Use Cases; Diagramming Features as Processes; Discovering Behaviors with Interaction Diagrams; What Are the Things That Describe My Problem?; Showing How Classes Are Related; Using State Chart Diagrams; Modeling Components; Fit and Finish; Visualizing Your Deployment Topology; Final Exam; Selected Bibliography; Index

Kimmel takes a subject that can be overloaded with lofty terminology and concepts, and boils it down to applicable, tangible examples. You'll learn the most critical parts of UML, such as use case diagramming and process flow diagrams. I'm sure people who make a living doing analysis with UML might think that the material is over-simplified, but that's the benefit of it. Most developers are not going to live in the world of UML. It's a communication tool that is designed to help convey design, not the actual system itself. Kimmel's approach removes the jargon, strips out the esoteric items that are more academic in nature, and focuses on the parts that actually benefit a project 95% of the time. Using a conversational tone with plenty of illustrations and practical examples, he allows the reader to soak in the information without getting bogged down in minutiae. This would be a good starter text for developers being exposed to UML for the first time. They'll understand what is trying to be accomplished, and they can refer back to the material over time to reinforce the concepts.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First UML Book I Could Understand, July 25, 2006

By 

David Ausman "VB.Net Guy" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: UML Demystified (Paperback)

I tried reading two other UML books before I found Paul's. After the first two I didn't even know what I had read. I almost gave up but work kind of made me keep trying. When I found Paul's book, everything started to make sense. Not only did I seem to be able to actually use the diagrams in useful ways but his book enhanced my understanding of object oriented programming, which was a bonus.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has been baffled by UML in the past. It's the first time I have seen how really valuable the whole process is. Now I'm hooked. Also, his book keeps me awake and is well thumbed, the other books would make me nod off.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great real-world guide, July 19, 2006

By 

Chris (Brantford, ON CAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: UML Demystified (Paperback)

Paul really nailed this subject on the head with this book. His title was very apt as although I have 5+ years working with UML, I was largely mystified by this modelling language and even more often by the implementations of it. After completing the book this past week I felt my understanding of UML to be pleasantly refreshed and clear.

Paul does an excellent job taking UML and describing it in a manner that is clear a concise - cutting through the technical details and giving you truly useful information and tips. Paul has a solid grasp of what is important, and even more key in my opinion, what is not important.

As well as cutting through the details that people often get bogged down with when using UML, the book is surprisingly easy to read considering the oft-dry subject matter! Kimmel's writing style turns this subject into an enjoyable learning experience and left me with motivation and energy to implement UML successfully in the future for my clients.

Newbies and "experts" alike will find this particular UML reference a valuable tool.