Suggestions for modeling

[Mike]

I'm starting up on big project that will take much of my time in next year
or two. Until now I was mostly self-employed on small projects so I didn't
spent so much time modeling system before implementation. Sure, I wrote use
cases now and then, draw UML in Visio but it wasn't matter of life and
death.

But because of scope in next project I'm kinda frighten that sooner or
latter I along my team will get lost in poorly documentet envoirement where
no one will know what is truly purpose of system's part that they are
working on or how to connect it to another.

So, since lot of envisioning and planning are up ahead I was thinking about
sharing tought or two regarding UML modeling, drawing use case diagrams and
similar subject. What programs for creating solution architecture you people
recommend? I'm in need of something that can truly succesfuly
reverse-engeenier and forward-engeneer (UML <-> C#.NET solution). What are
your views on 2005 generation of tools (VS.NET 2005 with Visio 2005) that
are comming next month? Anyone played long enough with Beta?

 

[Nick Malik [Microsoft]]

Of course, you will expect me to give a vote of confidence to the class
modeling tools in VS2005, and I do, to a point. You get only class diagrams
from Whitehorse and the format isn't standard UML.

If you need to actually document a system design, consider a product called
Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems. Excellent round-trip engineering
in C#, really nice modeling environment, and is capable of working
effectively if you have one designer or a team of designers. Price is
really competitive.

--
--- Nick Malik [Microsoft]
MCSD, CFPS, Certified Scrummaster
http://blogs.msdn.com/nickmalik

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this forum are my own, and not
representative of my employer.
I do not answer questions on behalf of my employer. I'm just a
programmer helping programmers.