A UML-based design environment for interactive applications

Abstract

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) can be used for modelling both the structure and behaviour of software applications. However, although UML supports many different modelling notations, minimal support is provided for user interface (UI) design. The Unified Modeling Language for Interactive Applications (UMLi) is an extension of UML that provides support for UI design. UMLi has a user interface diagram for modelling abstract UI presentations and an extended activity diagram that provides constructors for modelling common UI behaviours. The paper presents the support provided for UI design by the UMLi design environment. Designers can use the environment to model applications and their UIs using UML and its extensions in UMLi. The tool provides facilities for modelling interaction objects, and the collaboration of these interaction objects with domain objects.