I have been using few UML modeling tools like argoUML and starUML for quite some time. I have already blogged about my first impressions on argoUML.In that blog post, one user replied that I should have a look at starUML which is also free/open source and is lot better than the argoUML modeling tool. So, I tried starUML also. After using both UML modeling tools, here are my observations on them.
starUML
starUML is an open source UML modeling application licensed under a modified version of GNU GPL. Since the goal of starUML is to compete with the commercial UML modeling applications like Microsoft’s Visio and IBM’s Rational Rose, starUML boasts a complete set of UML modeling features.
Pros / Features of starUML
- Supports most of the diagrams specified in UML 2.0.
- Very rich feature set and formatting options.
- Ability to generate source code from the UML diagram.
- Reverse engineer the existing code into UML diagrams.
- Supported languages : C++, C# and Java.
- Fast load time/execution time compared with other UML tools.
- Familiar Visual Studio like user interface.
- Supports exporting diagrams into JPG / XMI formats.
Cons of starUML
- Does not supports exporting diagrams into SVG format.
argoUML
argoUML is written in Java and released under open source BSD License. argoUML is not yet developed completely, still is in O.xx versions. As it is already available in market and used by many developers around the world, I am putting my reviews on this UML tool.
Pros / Features of argoUML
- Written in Java, so runs in all the platforms where Java runs.
- Supports Code generation from the UML diagram / UML Diagram generation from the code.
- Currently supported languages are C++, C#, Java and PHP.
- Ability to manage ToDo list.
- Export UML diagram into XMI / JPG / SVG / PS formats.
Cons of argoUML
- Not fully supports UML 2.0.
- Can’t Undo! Developers of argoUML must be so optimistic that people (especially Software Developers) never do mistakes.
- Written in Java, so run comparatively slower than starUML.
- Lack of formatting options.
After using these two UML modeling tools, I recommend starUML for any developer.
What is your opinion on these two UML tools? Are they capable of replacing Visio and Rational Rose? Are there any other Free / Open Source UML modeling tools that I am missing here? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section.
{ 22 comments }
Hi Veer,
Here penyaskito, from the ArgoUML team.
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Thanks for your interest on ArgoUML, and the feedback you’ve given us (yes, we needed to google for it, but we found it
We just released 0.26.2, and we’re working on the next 0.28 release.
I’d like to explain about the cons you have made, and the progress we have now / we hope to have in a close future:
- UML 2.0 support:
We are working on it, and we hope to have it ready in 0.28.
- Undo/Redo:
This issue has been a nightmare in ArgoUML history. Now, with the switch to UML2, we’ll be using a different model repository, called EMF. Until now, we used MDR that hadn’t any built-in support for Undo/Redo, and was very difficult to implement this. Our change to EMF will make this easier, so we expect to have it done for 0.28.
- About Java speed, maybe we could blame for it to the Java virtual machines owners like Sun Microsystems, but I don’t feel that the difference is that important, and the pros of running in more platforms are great!
- About formating options, are you refering to visual formating of the UML diagrams (color, etc)? If you have any suggestion on this issue, we will be glad of hearing about it.
I hope that this makes clear where ArgoUML is today and where we want it to be. Remember that ArgoUML is opensource software, and any help, in form of writing code, documentation, reporting issues or any kind of feedback is welcome.
We hope that when 0.28 is alive you’ll make another review and we’ll win
Hello,
Is there a GNU/Linux version of starUML (I couldn’t find)? If not this is another con of it
I have tried StarUML, but stopped using it because I could not import classes where newer Java language features are support (e.g. Generics, etc.) Have you found this to be true?
Hi penyaskito,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I appreciate that you pitch in to give your comments.
About the formatting options that I had mentioned in the Cons section of argoUML, I meant the visual formatting options like coloring, font style editing etc. This feature is not a high-priority one for a UML editor. But if it is there it will add more value to the UML designer.
I hope future versions argoUML also will be a success as of its predecessors.
I am eagerly waiting for the argoUML 0.28 version and will be glad to put up a review once it’s alive.
Hi Tahir,
starUML is available only for win32 platform. There is no Linux version available. So, this can be added to the negatives of starUML.
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Thankss for your comment.
Hi Jan Choike,
starUML supports importing J2EE frameworks 1.3 and 1.4 standards. But Generics were introduced in the later Java frameworks. So, starUML may not support importing this new features.
We can expect these things are incorporated in the future versions of starUML.
Thanks for your comment, Jan.
I’ve been using ArgoUML for some time now and since i’m developing on linux, StarUML is a no go. As for me, that’s its worse con.
I don’t think there’s any *new* development happening in StarUML. Their latest release dates back to 2005-12-30! Also, it doesn’t support reverse-engineering of classes using any of the Java 1.5 language enhancements.
Your forgot to mention another important con for starUML: It’s not cross platform.
@Kodeninja
Thank you for your comment.
@ Kostas
Yes. Major Tom also has mentioned the point in the comments section that starUML is not a cross platform application. Here is where argoUML scores.
Hi Veer,
You can change coloring, font style editing, etc. in ArgoUML, in some different ways.
If you need more formatting, or changes about how we can format things, I’ll be glad of reading more details about it in our issues list / wishlist.
Does starUML run under WINE? I use Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex distros with current WINEHQ updates.
(Huge) Cons of starUML:
* Does only run on Windows.
(Huge) Cons of starUML:
* Does only run on Windows.
Hi,
I found the StarUML tool one of the best open source available UML tools. Yet, it seems that there is still some work to do in order to have it fully compatible with UML specifications…
Does anyone know about plans to release a new StarUML version… ?
I would also like to take this opportunity and share with you a recently developed course about UML 2.1 available for free at http://www.abelski.com, my eLearning web site (free courses for personal purposes).
More info about that course can be found at http://www.lifemichael.com/en/?p=210
Regards,
Life.
P.S. I strongly recommend you to check NetBeans as a UML tool… they did an excellent work… though they also still need to catch up becoming more compatible with the specifications…
StarUML looks interesting. Like many said, it’s delivered as a Windows binary only. But it’s Open Source so I’ll see if I can get it to compile under Linux…
That would give me another UML modeling tool to review
Just to add my voice to the choir:
The problem is not that StarUML does not run on linux, but that it *only* runs on windows. The other way around would not help a bit.
I’ve been using StarUML for 3 years now, I;m just starting on ArgoUML.
as of ArgoUml 0.28 -
– there is still no undo feature,
– I find it very easy to create diagrams
– Rich in features, Todo list, object properties.
– Code Generation is pretty good. (C#)
– GUI-I LIKE!!
Maybe its missing some visual options that StarUML have, like for INTERFACE, when I want to show a Circle and half Circle for dependency and realization.
I Always loved StarUML (even over visio, dont ask why) but I think I’ll move on to ArgoUML because its still evolving while all development for StarUML had stopped.
BTW, nobody is thanking the developers. So in behalf of those who benefit from these free application. THANKS!
Hi!
Has you tried exporting a .uml project to XMI in starUML. I have made a Sequence Diagrams in starUML. I am trying to convert the .uml into XMI, but I am getting an error.
“Access Violation at address 053XXXXXXX in module XMIAddIn.dll. Read of Address 00000000.”
Any suggestions?
Thanx.
Hi Fidelis,
I’m not sure about this error. Must be an program. StarUML forum might be able to help you out.
I don’t understand why anyone would recommend a UML tool that fails to parse valid syntax during reverse engineering. It’s one thing if additional features such as generics are discarded by the reverse engineering feature. But StarUML completely discards a class when it encounters any generics in the code. This makes the reverse engineering feature totally unusable.
Generics have been around for 5 years now, and current applications commonly make use of it. I have generics in nearly all my java code. StarUML should be considered obsolete until generics are at least recognized by the parser. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for another UML tool.
VP Suite 4.1 for Linux
http://tips-linux.net/en/content/visual-paradigm-suite-41-linux-license
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