Use Cases
-
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
-
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
Although I don't have a great amount of knowledge on the whole Usecases/UML stuff I can tell you that it would be a nightmare to work in large teams (100+) without such tools/concepts. Also if you tie it up with something like Rational Rose it might reduce some development time and errors. The drawback is more design skill and time is required. For smaller teams a basic algorithm/block diagram should get the work done. Usecases in such environment are usually an overkill. So in my opinion implementing usecases is a team size issue rather than a project size one. ########################## Taking pride in one's work is good as long as ego isn't a part of it. ########################## -- modified at 14:57 Wednesday 5th April, 2006
-
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
We're required by the FDA to document all our processes, and so we use them extensively. It does take some getting used to, but for the most part, you'll find that they do help identify potential problems early on ... If you want to get some "know-how" ... download this UML tool Poseidon for UML[^] Then hit Google and search for Use Case Examples ... there are plenty of sites out there with good examples; or get yourself a UML book.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |Development Blogging|Viksoe.dk's Site -- modified at 15:10 Wednesday 5th April, 2006 -
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
Down load EA-5.0 from Sparx works it is free and comes with some good tutorials. The web site is http://www.sparxsystems.com.au Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 www.keencomputer.com -- modified at 15:14 Wednesday 5th April, 2006
-
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
Are these like test cases?
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain
"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Native American Proverb
-
In the four years I've been programming no one I have ever worked with has created use cases. Well the company I now work for is asking me to write some for the project I was contracted to help develop so I have been reading up on them. My first impression is that they could possibly help but since I haven't got any real world experience with them I'm not sure. So my question is: Are you for or against them and why? Thanks for your input, -Richard
Richard Parsons wrote:
Are you for or against them and why?
When using them to communicate with someone, i'm for them. When using them to fulfill someone's expectation that effective communication is impossible without use-cases... or just some nebulous idea that they are necessary for a successful project... or just because someone likes looking at pictures... then i'm against them. See also: "Why RUP is a crock of shit"...
---- Scripts i've known... CPhog 0.9.9 - make CP better. Forum Bookmark 0.2.5 - bookmark forum posts on Pensieve Print forum 0.1.1 - printer-friendly forums
-
Are these like test cases?
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain
"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Native American Proverb
From what I have read no. http://alistair.cockburn.us/usecases/usecases.html[^] is the best site I have found so far. He has good info and several samples. Richard
-
Down load EA-5.0 from Sparx works it is free and comes with some good tutorials. The web site is http://www.sparxsystems.com.au Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 www.keencomputer.com -- modified at 15:14 Wednesday 5th April, 2006
-
Richard Parsons wrote:
Are you for or against them and why?
When using them to communicate with someone, i'm for them. When using them to fulfill someone's expectation that effective communication is impossible without use-cases... or just some nebulous idea that they are necessary for a successful project... or just because someone likes looking at pictures... then i'm against them. See also: "Why RUP is a crock of shit"...
---- Scripts i've known... CPhog 0.9.9 - make CP better. Forum Bookmark 0.2.5 - bookmark forum posts on Pensieve Print forum 0.1.1 - printer-friendly forums
Shog9 wrote:
just because someone likes looking at pictures...
Well, if you just have pretty pictures, yes not worth the effort. The description (Scenarios) behind them that documents the flow and expectation is good to have. Even if just a couple people. It is amazing how many assumptions take place. (No not really :) ) I also like EA business process diagrams for conveying intent. Especially if your are developing for a client. Let him describe the work in the use cases. Which you record as you talk about the needs. Then go do the business flow diagrams and see if they think your description back to them is correct and who is involved. I really get annoyed when people claim bad requirements. That is part of the developers job and UML is a good way to make the requirments clearer. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
-
Shog9 wrote:
just because someone likes looking at pictures...
Well, if you just have pretty pictures, yes not worth the effort. The description (Scenarios) behind them that documents the flow and expectation is good to have. Even if just a couple people. It is amazing how many assumptions take place. (No not really :) ) I also like EA business process diagrams for conveying intent. Especially if your are developing for a client. Let him describe the work in the use cases. Which you record as you talk about the needs. Then go do the business flow diagrams and see if they think your description back to them is correct and who is involved. I really get annoyed when people claim bad requirements. That is part of the developers job and UML is a good way to make the requirments clearer. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
I really get annoyed when people claim bad requirements. That is part of the developers job and UML is a good way to make the requirments clearer.
Like i said, if you're really using 'em, great! It's when they're magic beans that things get ugly. :)
---- Scripts i've known... CPhog 0.9.9 - make CP better. Forum Bookmark 0.2.5 - bookmark forum posts on Pensieve Print forum 0.1.1 - printer-friendly forums