The latest version of the UML (Unified Modelling Language), the
standard notation for software architecture, will be submitted to
the Object Management Group in the autumn. It will include
enhancements that make model-driven development easier - but most
developers would not even see the changes.
The forthcoming specification for UML 2.0 will build on the
industry's experience with UML 1.x, and the aim is to simplify
model-driven development, according to Grady Booch, chief scientist
of Rational Software, which is the author of UML.
"A lot of what is happening in [Version] 2.0 will actually be
utterly invisible to most mortal developers. But a lot is happening
under the surface to make it easier for tools vendors to move in
the direction of model-driven development," Booch said.
The idea, Booch continued, is to bring the UML as a higher-level
language that transcends most textual languages and enables both
code generation and reverse engineering, perhaps even to the point
of direct executability in some UML models.
Frank Gillett, an analyst with Forrester Research, said that while
UML is useful, it is not for every developer.
"UML seems to have done better than all of the individual modelling
languages that came before it," Gillett said. "But it's not
something I see at this point burgeoning beyond the groups of
architects that think strategically about the big picture."
Companies including Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, IBM, Oracle,
Borland Software and Compuware are all members of the consortium
driving UML. "Every tier 1 major IDE has some form of modelling
built into it," said John Meyer, an analyst with Giga Information
Group.
Meyer added that for UML to become mainstream, however, the
specification needs an injection of RAD (rapid application
development) capabilities.
"The thing that is missing is the RAD. You need [to add] some ease
of use to what is a lengthy process when you're using UML," Meyer
said.
Meyer said that the advantage of using UML is that companies are
thinking about and visualising the code before embarking on large
projects.
Rational's Booch said that once the specification is submitted, it
would be open to discussion by consortium members. Those talks are
likely to take place late this year or early next year.