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Unified Modeling Language Characteristics
It must be emphasized that UML is an extensible language. It has two elements that are used for customization, and these are stereotypes and profiles. Much of the semantics for this language were greatly improved with the UML 2.0 update. In 1996, a group of developers came together to create the UML Partners.
It was this collaboration which allowed them to create the Unified Modeling Language. When it was first created, the developers offered it as the response to OMG RFP. While the semantic integration was weak when the language was first introduced it, these problems were fixed with the release of UML 2.0.
Another characteristic of UML is that is borrows many concepts from the object oriented approach. When UML was created, one of the goals of the developers was to create a language that could support every object oriented approach. Some of the features which UML supports includes time analysis, data analysis, object oriented structure design, and state charts. With all these features, UML became the program of choice for professionals who needed to solve various engineering challenges.
Engineers commonly use it for single processes and systems which are distributed. However, UML is not limited to the engineering field. It is useful in any situation where developers need to map out complex systems or processes that can be understood by others.
While UML is a rich language, it is quite large. The standard for this language is maintained on an international level, and a number of additions have been made to it since the 1.1 release. As of this writing, UML 2.1 is in development, and it will be directly connected to XMI 2.1. When it comes to methods, it must be emphasized that UML is not a method itself. Instead, it is a language that was designed to work with the best object oriented approaches available.
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