UML in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference

by Sinan Si Alhir

Modeling languages have been used by system developers for decades to specify, visualize, construct, and document systems; rough sketches using stick figures and arrows and scribbled routing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565924487
• ISBN13: 9781565924482
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent destop reference

I agree with one reviewer who said this book may be reaching the wrong audience. This is not for beginners, it's a reference for those who have pre-existing knowledge but who need to review from time to time, when we come across something new or complex. This book belongs at work with everyone designing in UML.If your just beginning with UML, you may still benefit from this, but don't expect this to be an intro course to UML.

For a book I hated I sure do refer to it alot!

Err, I blasted this book in a previous review a year or so ago. Its not all that expensive and you should buy it. I find myself constantly refering to this book rather than other books. I didnt learn UML from this book :-) but I sure do use the bulleted lists alot now.

Despite the general opinion, this is a good book!

While the opinion of others seems to be that this book was a waste of their money, I thought it was well worth it. I've read quite a number of UML books and just about gave up and started reading the spec itself. Then I found this book and thought it was great! There are clear examples in the front and the reference sections were great in getting my feet wet. If I need more information then I'll read the spec.This is a great book if you are just trying to get your head around the UML.

Rare UML expertise is available here !

Having studied the UML for several months on a part-time basis, I am now in possession of several books on the subject, the most recent addition being "UML In A Nutshell" by Sinan Si Alhir. The types of computer book I own could be loosely categorised under the headings of Overview, General Subject Coverage, The Practical Usage Of, Academic and Reference, and I would place "UML In A Nutshell" in the last of these. The books' three sections are: i) an excellent coverage of the meta-issues of development, such as modelling languages, problem solving and the nature of Object Orientation. ii) a concise reference covering the use of the UML. iii) a detailed description of each of the diagramming types in a quick reference format, plus supplementary information on e.g. the Object Constraint Language. Within each section, extensive use of bullet points combined with paragraphs of text and sophisticated diagrams delivers the material in a disciplined manner. Due to the nature of the UML, and the very large amount of detail in the book, it is necessary to expend considerable effort on gaining a full appreciation of the material, effort which will be repaid many times over in correct use of the language. In my view, writing as a commercial software developer, the book is excellent in its stated role - A Desktop Quick Reference. However, those intent on studying the UML must understand that the subject is MUCH more demanding than, say, making basic use of a modern programming language. This is NOT a thousand page, lightweight coverage of the latest commercial development environment, which often demand relatively little skill for basic usage. This is a concise, extremely well thought out REFERENCE work, allowing the reader access to the most subtle and powerful aspects of this sophisticated modelling language. It is ideal to supplement UML books designed for beginners, typically when they begin to ask questions of the "what does this concept actually MEAN, & how does it fit into the broader picture ?" variety. I am very glad to have added "UML In A Nutshell" to my expanding collection of texts on this fascinating subject. Well done, again, O'Reilly.