Introduction:
The process through which a detailed model is transformed into executable
code is termed forwarding engineering. It is also known as Renovation and
Reclamation. After converting to code, much information including small and
in-depth details are lost because till now no programming language is richer in
context as compared to UML.
On the other hand, as the name suggests, reverse engineering is the opposite of
forward engineering. In reverse engineering, the application is broken down into
different small modules to extract knowledge of its architecture. It often
takes less time to develop. [1]
Now we have a basic concept about forward and reverse engineering, we can
dive into a detailed discussion with reference to UML.
[2] Unified Modeling Language (UML)
has been the standard notation for modeling object-oriented software systems
since 1997. UML diagrams are important
for maintainers of a system, especially when the software was developed by a
different team. [2]
Unified Modeling Language:
Unified Modeling Language,
is a standardized modeling language containing an integrated set of diagrams,
developed to help system and software developers the undertaking, figuring,
building, and documenting the pavements of software systems. UML provides its
users with a ready-to-use, extensive visual modeling language so they can
develop their business requirements in globally accepted standard notation. In
addition to this, it provides broad scope and specialization mechanisms to
elaborate the core concepts. It doesn't bound its user to stick with some
particular programming language or tool. It provides support to multiple
programming languages and tools which will be discussed later.
[3] UML can be categorized as:
1) Structure Diagrams
2) Behaviour Diagrams
Structure Diagrams:
Seven types of structure diagrams are as follows:
Class Diagram
Component Diagram
Deployment Diagram
Object Diagram
Package Diagram
Composite Structure Diagram
Profile Diagram
Behavior Diagrams:
Different types of behavior diagrams are as follows:
Use Case Diagram
Activity Diagram
State Machine Diagram
Sequence Diagram
Communication Diagram
Interaction Overview Diagram
Timing Diagram [3]
Matrerial and Method:
Tools:
·
Microsoft Visual Studio is highly common
graphical IDE with support for C, C++, C#, and VB.[3]
• Rational Rose, a
specialized modeling tool
for system architectures based on UML, included for
manual UML-modeling and as “standard” only. Unfortunately Rose does not support
neither forward nor reverse engineering support for C #. [3]
• PowerDesigner
v11.0, a tool for modeling of data systems with the aid of UML.[3]
• Visual Paradigm v2.1.
VP SDE is
made for UML-modeling
and integration with
Visual Studio, but
lacked support for the 2005 version of Visual Studio. It was therefore
tested together with the installation of MS Visual Studio.[3]
·
Gliffy is
an online cloud-based UML tool for browsers. It includes all types of diagrams
such as flowcharts, Venn diagrams and UML diagrams. This tool is suitable when
you are working in teams. It is a premium tool i-e after 14 days free trial,
user need needs to pay for certain features.[4]
·
ArgoUML has been
one of the most prominent open-source UML desktop applications. It is no longer
maintained widely nowadays due to its limited scope but it is still used for
smaller projects. ArgoUML supports a considerable range of programming
languages whose code can be generated from a diagram. Reverse engineering is
also possible for Java, C++, PHP, C#, and SQL. The program also recognizes
other languages such as Delphi or Ruby when you add them to the ArgoUML file
folder as extensions.[4]
UML-Modeling:
Class Diagrams are created according to provided data of classes, methods
and return types. User can add classes, methods, parameters etc. through drag
and drop from relevant menus. Talking about Visual Studio in particular, it has
less functionality of other UML diagrams as compared to Class diagram. The reason
is that Visual Studio Is an IDE and is designed for representing the models in
notation that is closely related to executeable code. Visual Paradigm is integrated into an IDE (Visual
Studio), which allows full scale modeling
and programming within
the same environment.
Code generation is
done in real-time
in Visual Paradigm and Visual Studio. [2]
UML-based code generation:
Out of all mentioned tools
above, Visual Studio, PowerDesigner
and Visual Paradigm
supports C# generation. Standard data types are also
supported in generated code. “DataSet” and “ArrayList” are treated as
especially defined data types. Microsoft Visual Studio automatically generates the main method,
which adds the
class “Program” that
contained this method.
Visual Studio and
Visual Paradigm adds:
“throw new System.NotImplementedException()”, VirtualParadigm SDE
adds: “throw new
System.Exception(“Not
implemented”)” while PowerDesigner only added the comment: “//TODO:
Implement” . [2]
Reverse Engineering:
Visual Paradigm did not perform
the UML-generation due
to an internal
error, and not able to save the file in a correct format. t Microsoft Visual Studio presents
a correct class
diagram after generating UML
diagram. Furthermore, PowerDesigner is not able to generate 'modifier partial
class' in class diagram rather it
generates an error message stating that PowerDesign doesn't support this
functionality. [2]
Results:
An experiment was performed to test whether the use of UML influences
maintenance in contrast to the use of only source code. The experiment was
conducted between 20 professional software developers. Results showed that
those who received UML diagrams require more time in code generation. UML also
helped in generating efficient code when information about the scope of the system
was limited. [5]
Another experiment was conducted
among 16 undergraduate students in order to test whether the comprehension of
source code increases when participants are provided with UML class and
sequence diagrams produced in the software. Results showed that participants
comprehend source code better when it is added to class and sequence diagram
together. [5]
A survey was conducted to check the amount of practice required to use UML
in software development. A significant number of people participated in that
survey. Results revealed that companies interviewed the people without keeing
in view their proficiency in UML and actually intermediate level of expertise
are required for using UML in software development. [5]
Conclusion & Discussion:
Different tools are tested for performing forward and reverse engineering.
The modeling equipment which have been examined show, as expected, enormous
similarities withinside the ensuing code and UML-diagrams. The finest
variations are the ones connected to the individual tool’s fundamental focus.
Microsoft Visual Studio is especially a software program improvement
surroundings and as such does it lack a few of the state-of-the-art modeling
techniques. Microsft Visual Studio 2005 .NET beta is likewise the primary model
of Visual Studio that embody any modeling capability, and it best helps
elegance diagrams (different modeling talents does not observe the UML popular
and lays out of doors the scope of this article). Visual Paradigm differs from
the fundamental flow modeling equipment in that experience that it's far
integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio.
Unified Modeling Language is one of the fundamentals of software development.
Before the use of this technique, the maintenance of code was literally a
headache. Performing a change in even a small portion of code and handling
that change was an uphill task. Since 1997, since the introduction of UML modeling,
code maintenance has been improved and become efficient. UML provides complete
understandings of business flow, software's key functionalities, application
tiers, and integrated environment. For instance, if a certain level of the software engineering process, a change or update is required in the code or
implementation model, we have every phase clear in front of us. We can pinpoint that particular area without disturbing the whole model.
Referrences:
3. https://www.visual-paradigm.com/guide/uml-unified-modeling-language/what-is-uml/
4. https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/the-best-uml-tools/
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