Modeling provides IT architects and others the ability to visualize entire systems, assess different options, and communicate designs more clearly before taking on the risks -- technical, financial or otherwise -- of actual construction. Software systems today are complex. Modeling those systems enables you to manage the complexity and to understand the design and associated risks. Use the resources here to examine best practices, tools, and methodologies for modeling applications, process workflows, and service-oriented environments, and data; and for transforming models into executable code and reusable assets.
The value of modeling
: Learn how modeling provides not only visual but also textual content, and why the combination is important. And find out how to model throughout the various phases of the software development life cycle and what modeling types are appropriate for each phase.
An introduction to Model-Driven Architecture
: Examine the importance of models and modeling, and get an overview of the four key principles of Model-Driven Architecture (MDA).
How to migrate from code-centric to model-centric development
: See how you can develop higher-quality software more efficiently using a model-driven development approach.
Understanding how model-driven development can increase the business value of IT
: Your successful IT project could be a business failure. Learn how the model-driven development approach can prevent this unwanted outcome.
Architecture-driven development
: Reduce complexity using patterns and model-driven development to simplify your overall development process.
Hardware/software co-development using a model-driven systems development approach: Illustrating the solution
: The second in a three-part series, this article details a process for model-driven systems development (MDSD) in the example context of a high-end printing system.
UML basics: An introduction to the Unified Modeling Language
: Learn the fundamentals of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), including how and why it's used, along with an overview of the basic diagrams that form the backbone of this visual design language.
Unified Modeling Language Version 2.0
: Get an overview of model-driven development and explanations of key enhancements introduced in UML 2.0.
Understanding types of use cases and artifacts
: Examine different types of use cases and artifacts, and introduce use-case techniques to a team that is unfamiliar with them.
UML basics: The class diagram
: Explore the class diagram, used to define a structure diagram type (class, interface, data type, component).
UML basics: The sequence diagram
: Read a detailed introduction to the sequence diagram, used to document a system's requirements and to flush out a system's design.
UML basics: The component diagram
: Get an overview of the important component diagram, used to show the structural relationships between the components of a system.
Creating effective UML diagrams has never been
easier
: Discover how to use user-assisted modeling features, such as content
assist and diagram assist, to create UML diagrams in IBM® Rational® modeling products.
Introducing Rational Software Modeler
: Discover how Rational Software Modeler translates requirements into use cases and other artifacts, based on UML, such as class diagrams and sequence diagrams.
Introducing Rational Software Architect
: Use Rational Software Architect to create simple class and use-case diagrams, generate code from the class diagrams, and perform an architectural analysis of your code.
Reduce complexity with model-driven development
: Explore this series, which takes you end to end through the requirements gathering, business modeling, and application development and deployment stages of the solution development process.
Model with the Eclipse Modeling Framework
: Step through the process of creating a model, generating code, using the generated applications, and customizing the editor.
Patterns:
Model-driven development using Rational Software Architect
(from IBM
Redbooks®): Discover how the
model-driven development (MDD) software life cycle differs from other approaches and how
to effectively plan and manage an MDD project. If you are already working on an MDD
project, you learn to use Rational Software Architect to carry out your work.
Eclipse Development using the Graphical Editing Framework and the Eclipse Modeling Framework
: Get a high-level intro to the Eclipse frameworks, in addition to tips and techniques for writing code that uses these frameworks. This IBM Redbook shows Eclipse plug-in developers how.
Architectural Manifesto
: Read this column, which includes several entries on model-driven architecture, as well as other entries of general interest to the IT architect.
Modeling Host
Environments using SNAP/SHOT
: Model complex host environments such as IBM Parallel
Sysplex®, MVS™ compatibility and goal mode, PR/SM, dynamic transaction
routing, IBM DB2® Universal Database™ with and without data sharing,
IMS™, and batch window using the capabilities of the SNAP/SHOT simulation tool. This IBM redbook shows MVS developers how.
UML to CORBA transformation in Rational Software Architect
: Create and use the CORBA template model, and extend it to create your own CORBA Model.
Learn business process modeling basics for the
analyst
: Discover modeling concepts that analysts use to define business processes
and explore the features in IBM WebSphere® Business Integration Modeler that support these concepts.
From business modeling to Web services implementation: Modeling a business process
: Follow a sample scenario in which a simple business process is modeled, resulting in artifacts used to define Web service definitions that can be invoked by any service consumer.
From UML to BPEL
: Learn about UML, BPEL, and model-driven architecture in a Web services world.
Business processes with BPEL4WS
: Check out this series, which gives you an understanding of the different components of the language, enabling you to create your own complete processes.
Business process modeling using WebSphere Business Integration Modeler
: Explore a method and techniques for graphically modeling a business process using IBM WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 to generate artifacts you can use in the development environment.
Business process modeling
: Take this tutorial and complete the three steps of defining a business process inside WebSphere Business Integration Modeler.
Modeling business processes with WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1
: Model business processes using WebSphere Business Integration Modeler and Rational XDE. And you'll use WebSphere Process Choreographer, a component of WebSphere Application Developer Integration Edition, to help reduce the complexity of process modeling.
On demand business process life cycle
: This series uses a scenario based on a real hardware order-processing system used by IBM to demonstrate the use of patterns, modeling, workflow, rules, monitoring, and methods and techniques you can use to build reusable assets, all to support the rapid creation of on demand business processes.
Model a business process with WebSphere MQ Workflow
: Model business processes with WebSphere MQ Workflow, especially those processes involving complicated logic, such as looping.
Rational UML profile for business modeling
: Get details about the Rational UML profile for business modeling, a component of the Rational Unified Process (RUP). It presents a UML language for capturing business models and is supported by the Business Modeling Discipline in the RUP.
Business services modeling
: Integrating WebSphere Business Modeler and Rational Software Modeler helps bridge the semantic gap between business requirements and the IT solutions that are intended to meet them.
Service-oriented modeling and architecture
: Get an introduction to the highlights of service-oriented modeling and architecture, including key activities you need for the analysis and design required to build a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Elements of service-oriented analysis and design
: Combine elements from well-established practices such as Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD), Enterprise Architecture (EA) frameworks, and business process modeling (BPM), and complement them with innovative elements upon demand, to build a structured approach or analysis and design method to craft SOAs of quality.
Modeling service-oriented solutions
: Explore the background, scope, and concepts behind the combination of the Rational Unified Process Update for Service-Oriented Architecture (RUP Update for SOA) and the Rational Software Architect implementation of the UML Profile for Software Services.
Use Rational Data Architect to integrate data sources
:
Rational Data Architect allows you to use a single tool that can document your business decisions and business transformations, introduce checkpoints, and automate the information integration process. Read this article to explore a tool-supported process for federation design in just five steps.
Visual data modeling in Rational Application Developer V6.0
: Learn about the visual data modeling feature in Rational Application Developer 6.0 that supports three industry-standard design notations: IDEF1X, Information Engineering (IE or Crow's Foot, and UML.
alphaWorks download: Data Architect for DB2 Content Manager
: Download these data-modeling tools and infrastructure for creating reusable model assets for DB2 Content Manager applications.
Modeling a DB2 UDB database with IBM Rational XDE
Developer for Java
: Get the basics of how to model a DB2 Universal Database (UDB)
using Rational XDE Developer for Java™.
Deliver an effective and flexible data warehouse solution
: Take a flexible and effective approach to plan, design, and implement a basic data warehouse solution based on DB2 Data Warehouse Edition.
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Rational Data Architect is an information integration tool that can document
your business decisions and business transformations, introduce checkpoints, and automate the information integration process. Learn more about this product.
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Rational Systems Developer is a design and development tool that takes advantage of the full power of Eclipse and includes plug-ins that enable software architects and model-driven developers to create well-architected C/C++, Java J2SE, and CORBA-based applications that leverage Unified Modeling Language (UML 2). Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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Rational Software Modeler is a customizable, UML 2.0-based visual modeling and
design tool that enables the documentation and communication of processes, flows and designs. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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Rational Software Architect is a design and development tool that leverages
model-driven development with the UML for creating well-architected applications and services. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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Rational Application Developer is a comprehensive IDE that allows for the
design, develop, analyze, test, profile and deployment of Web, Web services, Java, J2EE, and portal applications. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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Rational Rose Data Modeler accelerates database design by providing a
sophisticated and flexible modeling environment. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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Rational Rose XDE Developer for Java is a visual modeling product that supports
the latest standards, including UML 2.0. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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WebSphere Business Modeler provides functionality for process modeling,
enterprise modeling, essential data and artifact modeling, organization modeling, resource modeling, timeline and location modeling, simulation, and business process analysis. Learn more about this product or download a trial version.
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WebSphere Business Integration Workbench is a process modeling tool for
testing, analyzing, simulating, and validating business processes and software models. Learn more about this product.
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WebSphere MQ Workflow allows for independent automation of processes that
involve systems and people. Learn more about this product.
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Object Management Group Model-Driven Architecture (OMG MDA) provides an open, vendor-neutral approach to the challenge of business and technology change.
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W3C Web Services Architecture defines the Web Services Architecture. It identifies the functional components and defines the relationships among those components to produce the desired properties of the overall architecture.
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Unified Modeling Language (UML) provides a key foundation for the OMG Model-Driven Architecture, which unifies every step of development and integration from business modeling, through architectural and application modeling, to development, deployment, maintenance, and evolution.
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