`UMLGraph dds`

UMLGraph - Declarative Drawing of UML Diagrams

UMLGraph allows the declarative specification and drawing of UML class and sequence diagrams. The current features are part of an ongoing effort aiming to provide support for all types UML diagrams. An IEEE Software article titled On the declarative specification of models explains the rationale behind this approach. The tehnology behind UMLGraph was used to draw many of the diagrams appearing in the book Code Reading: The Open Source Perspective (Addison Wesley, 2003). In addition, Adam Feuer's PyUMLGraph system extends the concept to Python programs.

Class Diagrams

One specifies a class diagram using the Java syntax complemented by javadoc tags. Running the UmlGraph doclet on the specification will generate a Graphviz diagram specification that can be automatically processed to create Postscript, GIF, SVG, JPEG, fig, or Framemaker drawings.

The following is an example of a class diagram specification and the resulting UML diagram:

class Person {
	String Name;
}

class Employee extends Person {}

class Client extends Person {}

Sequence Diagrams

One specifies a sequence diagram using pic macros to define objects and method invocations. The GNU plotutils pic2plot program can then process the sequence diagram to create a PNG, PNM, (pseudo)GIF, SVG, AI, Postscript, CGM, FIG, PCL, HPGL, Regis, or TEK drawing.

The following is an example of a sequence diagram specification and the resulting UML diagram:

# Define the objects
object(O,"o:Toolkit");
placeholder_object(P);
step();

# Activation and messages
active(O);
message(O,O,"callbackLoop()");
create_message(O,P,"p:Peer");
message(O,P,"handleExpose()");
active(P);
return_message(P,O,"");
inactive(P);
destroy_message(O,P);
inactive(O);

# Complete the lifeline of O
step();
complete(O);

Download and Links

UMLGraph is hereby made freely available as Open Source Software. The current version of UMLGraph is VERSION. You can download UMLGraph and its documentation from the following links:

UmlGraph package (.tar.gz file containing the source code, the compiled doclet, and the complete documentation in HTML format).
Documentation (table of contents - suitable for web browsing).
Printable documentation (the above as a single printable page).
Version history
freshmeat.net page (use it to subscribe and post comments)

Diomidis Spinellis home page

(C) Copyright 2002-2004 D. Spinellis. May be freely uploaded by WWW viewers and similar programs. All other rights reserved.
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