How to Build Shlaer-Mellor Object Models

By Yourdon Press and Leon Starr

In their attempts to apply the highly effective Object-Oriented Analysis method to real projects, many engineers often encounter numerous organizational, political, and technical obstacles that hamper their success with OOA and discourage their efforts. For such engineers, this easy-to-use reference guide is the next best thing to having an expert OOA analyst at their side. KEY TOPICS: Identifies the common organizational, political, and technical obstacles and provides practical solutions, illustrated with anecdotes and examples. MARKET: For engineers working on projects where the Shlaer/Mellor Object-Oriented Analysis (OOA) method is being applied.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0132076632
• ISBN13: 9780132076630
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Pearson
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.9" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Excerpts from JOOP article

Whilst it can be difficult to sometimes find real, practical advice on using object methods in many books, this text is an exception in that it provides in-depth, pragmatic advice on how to build Shlaer-Mellor object information models. The book is divided into three parts. The first addresses basic modelling concepts, the second describes practices for building useful models, and the third part provides details of some common analysis model patterns.The first part reinforces the basic concepts of the Shlaer-Mellor objectinformation model, but does so through more detailed, and practical examples than the original Shlaer-Mellor text. This is not surprising as the original text is a basic introductory teaching aid and this is more of a practitioners guide which has the benefit of ten years experience. However, the added detail and the extended treatment is worthwhile. A fine example of extended value of the model can be found in Chapter 1 with the description of the different object categories that can be found on a model. Starr has added a number of new categories to the original five categories defined by Shlaer-Mellor and his description of the spectrum of objects from concrete objects to abstract objects is very well done. The author's writing style is peppered with some light humour which is a nice touch. His description of a 'soft' object as "one that you can't kick" being an example.The next few chapters continue the description of Shlaer-Mellor fundamentals supported by examples. Relationships are given the in-depth treatment they deserve with chapter topics moving from simple relationships in Chapter 3 to more advanced subtyping in Chapter 7. Each chapter contains a number of answers to frequently asked questions that provide some more useful information. I felt the answers to these questions could have been done in a little more detail and perhaps a greater number of questions would also have been worthwhile.The second part of the text comprises five chapters that provide more of the "how to" advice around constructing models. Chapter 8 informs us how to recognise, and avoid "model hacking". A phenomena where the modeller starts focusing on modelling and playing with boxes, lines, etc. in the vain hope of being able to accurately capture a concept or set of concepts. The author provides some useful symptoms for model hacking, such as "People nod politely when you explain your model, but you can tell they just don't get it", and "you have no idea whether your model is complete - or ever will be". This hacking should be replaced by taking a step back and focusing on understanding the problem domain. At this point the distinction between analysis and modelling is introduced, and the usefulness of informal sketches is argued for. This is a good chapter that many an inexperienced modeller would be wise to read. It offers some down-to-earth wisdom from someone who has been there.As a past practitioner of