Introduction to Object Technology using UML Course

Target audience

Anyone interested in using, or understanding, the concepts of object orientation. No technical knowledge is required.

Objectives

  • To show good design, and why it is worth striving for.
  • To introduce the key concepts of object orientation.
  • To explain how good design helps in the software development process.
  • To introduce the techniques for object-oriented analysis and design.
  • To introduce the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and the application of use cases.
  • To introduce the Rational Unified Process (RUP) as a basic development process.

Data

  • Duration: 1 day
  • Class size: 4-12 (1 or 2 presenters)

Outline

  • Brief introduction to good design
  • Group exercise illustrating communication and collaboration in systems.
  • Explanation of fundamental object-oriented concepts.
  • Group exercise illustrating the basic behaviour of an object-oriented system.

There is emphasis throughout on the reasons why object-orientation is useful in achieving good designs.

Description

The course emphasises the importance of good design. The key concepts of object orientation - objects, classes, inheritance and polymorphism - are introduced as a means to that end. These concepts are illustrated through role playing exercises. The same exercises help to show the relationship between the software system and the business system it models and supports.

The steps of a simplified software development process based on the RUP are described. The benefits of good design, and thus of object orientation, for the different stages of the development process, and especially for maintenance, are discussed.

The course also introduces some tools and techniques which are covered in greater depth in the analysis and design courses.