Enterprise Java and UML, Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of project lifecycle
Review: Trying to develop a Java application without first developing a model can lead to a poorly designed application that fails to fulfill the needs of users, lacks reusability, and is difficult to maintain. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) was developed as an open standard notation to assist developers in modeling OO applications. As enterprise developers we are finding that we are expected to be able to design applications using UML, explain UML diagrams to our users, or be able to develop applications from UML diagrams. UML can be difficult and confusing to use and many of the books available fail to clearly explain the proper use of this development tool. "Enterprise Java with UML", by CT Arrington is an excellent introduction into the complexities of UML. Arrington takes us through the entire lifecycle of a sample EJB application (a timecard system) from requirements gathering to implementation. In alternating chapters he explains the use of UML (use cases, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, etc.) for that step in the development cycle and then uses what he just explained to develop the timecard system. Along the way we make technology decisions, develop our design, and ultimately convert our design into actual code. By the time we are done UML has become a new tool in our toolbox. Arrington has done a very good job explaining UML although some familiarity with UML notation (or at least a handy manual) would be helpful. This is a must have book for any Java developer wishing to learn UML.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT for Beginners
Review: We are in the process of converting our PowerBuilder apps to JAVA and as part of that process I wanted to incorporate UML design. This book has help in so many ways to see clearly the real power of UML. The examples are very insightful and have helped with our current requirements gathering.
I would highly recommend this for anyone new into UML and Java.