Reviews for UML Weekend Crash Course

1. Excellent UML starter book to pick up the basics quickly

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, July 12th, 2006

   UML is the "lingua franca" of software specification and design. To make it work effectively the widest number of people in your organisation need to be at least familiar with the basic diagrams. This lets you use UML as a sort of "English" which everyone can understand when you get up to the whiteboard to map something out.
   
   This book supports this "evangalisaton" process very well. Its simple with straightforward examples. It explicitly avoids getting bogged down with the more esoteric aspects of UML and concentrates on the basics. For example, use of sterotypes is summarised, rather than elaborated in endless detail.
   
   I lost count of the number of people I lent this book to. Most of them were new to UML, but most were very familiar with software development and previous sybologies (SSADM, LSDM, Yourdon). In many cases I targeted them at just one chapter (eg Use Cases) which would be all they needed for a specific job. Of course I ended up not getting the book back so I am ordering another one.
   
   UML is refreshing because its simple and easily understood by most people. At the end of the day its a simple diagramming tool to help you convey ideas. If this is what you want (and I do) then this is the book for you.
   
   If on the other hand you want to design a complex software system at a deep level, you want every object, method and interaction bolted down in a UML diagram complete with code generation, then I accept there are other books that are better. (Just dont expect your project manager or customer to understand the diagrams though ... :-)
   
   If you already understand analysis and design, but don't understand UML, then this book is a very time efficient place to start.
   
   (note: this book covers UML 1.1 however UML 2.0 is out now. I wouldnt worry about this. The UML 1.1 diagrams are still the core of UML, and is still universally used, in my experience. UML 2.0 seems to be extra frills added for the tool/code generation vendors and I have yet to see anyone really use the new stuff in practice. If it bothers you though, the O'Reilly "UML 2.0 in a Nutshell" looks like a good, follow up, reference book to buy, after you have learnt the basics with the Weekend Crash Course.)

2. Vacuous boring guff.

   Rated 1 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2004

   Read this book if you never need to develop systems with UML. Good for the person who needs to be able to say "Ive heard that word before" in a UML discussion, however cant put their finger on what is meant.

   A complete waste of time and effort reading as you will not know how to use UML at the end of it. Try Applying Use Cases by Geri Scheider and go from there. Expect to buy two or more books.

   With UML there is no substitute for study and effort. They use to sell stuff like this from the back of wagons in the Wild West. Cure all - I dont think.