Visio and UML 2.0

Visio and UML 2.0

• Jain2005

  Actually, Microsoft does not want to turn anybody away from using UML notation.

  However, as pointed out here we recommend using UML and UML-based tools for:

  • Sketching.
  • White boarding.
  • Documentation.
  • Conceptual drawings that do not directly relate to code.

  And, we recommend precisely defined DSLs and DSL-based tools for:

  • Precise abstractions from which code is generated.
  • Precise abstractions that map to variation points in frameworks and components.
  • Precise mappings between DSLs.
  • Conceptual drawings that have precisely specifiable mappings to other DSLs or to code artifacts.

  Interestingly enough, if you like the UML notation, you can create DSL languages based on that notation.

  For example, I've created a Business Collaboration Specification Language as an extension and specialization
  of the Activity Diagram notation introduced by UML. And, with DSL toolkit, it takes a week to design (4ds) and implement (1d) a language like that.

  I would strongly encourage you to try using the UML notation inside the Visual Studio environment using DSL toolkit to create your own language, from which you can create code through subsequent transformations.
  That way UML artifact become design artifacts instead of documentation, and you don't trhrow them away after a while.

  Mind that, being UML a general purpose notation, when you apply UML you end up creating specialization/extensions of UML notation anyway. And you generally use stereotypes for that. However, if you had some experience with stereotypes you know how painful that can be... because of the way UML semantics is defined (or better not d.)...

  Conversely, using DSL to either come up with your notation or use and extend a UML based one, is a much better way.

  HIH

  Mauro Regio
  Architect | Microsoft Corp.

  
  
  

• beckerben

  While this response is interesting, it does not answer the question. Will Microsoft be updating Visio to UML 2.0
  
  

• Danny Crowell

  Hi Mauro,
  
  I have big doubts in use of DSL and SDM to explicity the software architecture. With UML I can draw all the layer and Patterns that I use and explicity then in a Diagram.
  
  Can I do this with DSL
  
  Just to exemplify, in my projects I use a lots os Class library projects to explicty the layers like Facade, Proxy, Business Objects, Dalc and using the Architeture tool I'm still figuring out how to do this.
  
  Do you have some information about it
  
  
  Thank you.
  
  
  

• victorashi

  Hi,

  I don't work at Microsoft, but from what it seems, Microsoft is pushing towards using DSLs instead of UML notation, so it doesn't seems there will be an update to the visio's uml template.

  If you want to use UML my advice to you - try other tools (such as sparx EA, rational tools etc).

  Ido.

  
  
  

• KrisLa_MS

  It seems this thread is dead, but I am interested in the same thing. Does anyone know if there has been, or if there are plans for, a release for Visio 2007 containing enhancements to utilize UML 2.0
  
  
• Visio and UML 2.0