How an unintended Side Effect of a Research Project led to Boosting the Power of UML

Abstract

This paper describes the design, implementation and use of a new UML modeling tool that represents a significant advance over conventional tools. Among other things, it allows the integration of class diagrams and object diagrams as well as the execution of objects. This not only enables new software architectures characterized by the integration of software with corresponding object models, but is also ideal for use in teaching, as it provides students with a particularly stimulating learning experience. A special feature of the project is that it has emerged from a long-standing international research project, which is aimed at a comprehensive multi-level architecture. The project is therefore an example of how research can lead to valuable results that arise as a side effect of other work.