Unified Modeling Language

The Unified Modeling language (UML) was released by the Object Management Group (OMG) in the effort to provide a standardized design language to build and develop computer applications. The purpose of the design language is to allow IT professionals to distribute system structure and design plans in a comprehensible graphical manner, similar to blueprints of a building. Modeling is an important part of software projects, large and small. With modeling, the software development team are better able to work with the end-user in providing a visual program design. Surveys reveal that the development of large software applications have many impediments and have a large probability of failure. Modeling provides a greater opportunity for success in the development of software applications. (Introduction to OMG’s Unified Modeling Language)

UML is the combined work of James Rumbaugh, Ivar Jacobson and Grady Booch.Dr. James Rumbaugh is one of the leading software development methodologists in the world. Dr. Rumbaugh previous to the development of UML, worked on software methodology, tools, and concepts for more than 35 years. He was the chief developer of the Object Modeling Technique (OMT), a leading object-oriented analysis and design method that was a predecessor of UML. Grady Booch is recognized internationally for his innovative work on software architecture, software engineering and modeling. He worked with IBM Rational as it’s Chief Scientist since 1981, and has published several hundred technical articles on software engineering and object-oriented design. Ivar Jacobson is a Swedish computer scientist. He thought of the need for blueprints in software development. While working for Ericsson he proposed and developed the use of software components, such as sequence diagrams, and invented use cases as a way to write down software requirements. He developed collaboration diagrams, and applied state transition diagrams to describe the message flow