Incremental UML for Agile Development: Embedding UML Class Models in Source Code

Abstract

Agile methods favor "working software over comprehensive documentation." The latter presumably includes Unified Modeling Language. UML is expensive to maintain, and it lacks good drill-down mechanisms, however, UML affords very useful visualizations. This paper describes a discipline for incrementally embedding graphical UML class models within source code for continuous agile development. The approach consists of identifying a main function, and having it drive the piece-wise creation of UML by explicitlyincluding in its postconditions the placement of functionscorresponding directly to requirements. The approach thusintroduces higher order pre-and postconditions. A specific process is provided for carrying this out, together with examples. It enables UML class model visualization in rapid development, especially when tool-supported.