Software Engineering

Design and UML Class Diagrams

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 How do we design classes?
 class identification from project spec / requirements
 nouns are potential classes, objects, fields
 verbs are potential methods or responsibilities of a class

 CRC card exercises

 write down classes' names on index cards
 next to each class, list the following:

responsibilities: problems to be solved; short verb phrases

collaborators: other classes that are sent messages by this class
(asymmetric)

 UML diagrams
 class diagrams (today)
 sequence diagrams
 ...

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 UML class diagrams
 What is a UML class diagram?

UML class diagram: a picture of the classes in an
OO system, their fields and methods, and
connections between the classes that interact or
inherit from each other

 What are some things that are not represented in a

UML class diagram?

details of how the classes interact with each other

algorithmic details; how a particular behavior is
implemented

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 Diagram of one class
 class name in top of box
 write <<interface>> on top of interfaces' names
 use italics for an abstract class name

 attributes (optional)
 should include all fields of the object

 operations / methods (optional)

 may omit trivial (get/set) methods

but don't omit any methods from an interface!
 should not include inherited methods

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 Class attributes
 attributes (fields, instance variables)
 visibility name : type [count] = default_value

 visibility: + public
# protected
- private
/ derived
 underline static attributes

 derived attribute: not stored, but can

be computed from other attribute values

 attribute example:
- balance : double = 0.00

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 Class operations / methods
 operations / methods
 visibility name (parameters) : return_type

 visibility: + public
# protected
- private
~ package (default)
 underline static methods
 parameter types listed as (name: type)
 omit return_type on constructors and
when return type is void

 method example:
+ distance(p1: Point, p2: Point): double

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Visibility of Elelments

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 Comments
 represented as a folded note, attached to the
appropriate class/method/etc by a dashed line

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 Relationships btwn. classes
 generalization: an inheritance relationship
 inheritance between classes
 interface implementation

 association: a usage relationship

 dependency
 aggregation
 composition

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 Generalization relationships
 generalization (inheritance) relationships
 hierarchies drawn top-down with arrows
pointing upward to parent
 line/arrow styles differ, based on whether
parent is a(n):

class:
solid line, black arrow

abstract class:
solid line, white arrow, Italic Format

interface:
dashed line, white arrow

 we often don't draw trivial / obvious

generalization relationships, such as
drawing the Object class as a parent

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 Associational relationships
 associational (usage) relationships
1. multiplicity (how many are used)

*  0, 1, or more

1  1 exactly

2..4  between 2 and 4, inclusive

3..*  3 or more
2. name (what relationship the objects have)
3. navigability (direction)

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 Multiplicity of associations
 one-to-one
 each student must carry exactly one ID card

 one-to-many
 one rectangle list can contain many rectangles

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 Car

Association types
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aggregation
 aggregation: "is part of" 1
Engine
 symbolized by a clear white diamond

 composition: "is entirely made of" Book

 stronger version of aggregation composition
 the parts live and die with the whole
1
 symbolized by a black diamond
*
Page
 dependency: "uses temporarily"
 symbolized by dotted line
 often is an implementation
detail, not an intrinsic part of dependency
that object's state
Lottery Random
Ticket
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Class diagram example 1

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 Class diagram example 2
Multiplicity

Customer Simple
1
Class Aggregation

Abstract Rental Invoice

Class

Rental Item 1..*

1 0..1

Composition Simple
Generalization (subyping)
Association

Checkout Screen
DVD Movie VHS Movie Video Game

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 Class diagram example 3

StudentBody Student
1 100
- firstName : String
+ main (args : String[]) - lastName : String
- homeAddress : Address
- schoolAddress : Address

+ toString() : String
Address
- streetAddress : String
- city : String
- state : String
- zipCode : long

+ toString() : String

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 Tools for creating UML diags.
 Violet (free)
 http://horstmann.com/violet/

 Rational Rose
 http://www.rational.com/

 Visual Paradigm UML Suite (trial)

 http://www.visual-paradigm.com/
 (nearly) direct download link:
http://www.visual-paradigm.com/vp/download.jsp?product=vpuml&edition=ce

(there are many others, but most are commercial)

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