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Project: Visualization and layout of architecture/design diagrams {using UML}

Description

In software engineering Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams are used to visually represent a software system. UML diagrams communicate different aspects of the system (e.g., the main actors, roles, actions, and classes). The goal of the UML diagram is to document the architecture of the system for better understanding, reasoning, and maintainability. Typically a UML diagram is visualized using blocks and arrow between the blocks (see example Figure above). Many elements are involved and the diagrams can become quite large. A good layout of these diagrams helps in readability and understanding. Central elements can for example be placed at the center, and semantically similar elements can be grouped to improve readability. Currently, there are no algorithms, tools or techniques to automatically layout and visualize a UML diagram that take into account such metrics. In previous research,  algorithms have been developed to classify the quality of some 90 000 UML diagrams from open-source projects [1].

Different projects related to visualization of UML diagrams are possible:

·         Automatic layout. In this project we explore the different quality metrics and use them to visualize UML diagrams. The goal is to create a tool/technique to visualize UML diagrams with automatic layouting and interaction techniques for exploration and analysis. Likely, the quality metrics as identified earlier can be used to create a semantically meaningful layout.
One possible direction is to use machine learning techniques to tailor parameters in the layout-algorithm.

 

·         Source code UML diagram generation. Can UML diagrams automatically be generated from code? This would save valuable time if no UML diagram is designed before coding the software and helps in understanding the architecture and system. Second it can be used to compare the ‘offline’ UML diagram to the automatically generated one for conformance checking and to understand differences.

 

·         Dependency evolution. Typically, software evolves over time. Different UML diagrams constructed at milestone moments, help in understanding the evolution of the software. Currently no visualization methods exist for the exploration and analysis of evolving UML diagrams. The goal of this project is to develop tools & techniques to visualize the evolution of UML diagrams.

 

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Details

Supervisor

Stef van den Elzen

Secondary supervisor

MC

prof.dr. Michel Chaudron

External location

Internal