Modelling with ‘UML Dominoes’ August 6, 2006
Posted by James Webster in : development , trackbackOur team at work did a bit of impromptu UML modelling around a whiteboard this week (i.e.. the GOOD kind of UML modelling, as opposed to the ‘out-of-touch architect in an ivory tower using Rational Rose’ kind). It struck me, as I am sure it has struck someone else before, that a much more tactile and literally hands-on approach might be to model the domain using index cards.
Prepare in advance a stack of index cards containing a mixture of the typical connecting arrows used in UML to indicate different kinds of object relationships; aggregation, composition, depends, generalisation, etc. Here is an example:
Have on hand a plentiful supply of blank index cards on which to write the names of classes that you wish to include in the model. Then simply lay them end-to-end with the relationship cards as you would with domino pieces:
I have been rereading Eric Evan’s Domain Driven Design and this would be a great way to illustrate a project’s Core Domain; UML Dominoes are one way of demonstrating the Highlighted Core via a Big Visible Chart.
Comments»
It seems a lot like orginated from paper modelling. Why not we start a new business to provide pre-made paper toolkit to ThoughtWorks? I think we could make a fortune. I am just kidding:)
[…] Thanks to Jason I’ve been clued onto Cardmeeting. Its an interesting take on distributed team collaboration that replicates index cards on a wall. Nothing can achieve the same tactile quality as physical index cards for planning or UML design but until we have ‘Minority Report’ style haptic interfaces this is a pretty good alternative for a distributed agile team. […]