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UML 2 Certification Guide: Fundamental and Intermediate Exams
The popular Unified Modeling Language (UML) is both a language and notation developed by the Object Management Group (OMG) used to design and create specifications for software systems. With the recent release of version 2.0 UML, the OMG has started the OMG-Certified UML Professional Program to provide an objective measure of UML knowledge. As a certified UML professional a developer has an important credential to present to employers and clients. Certification also benefits companies looking for skilled UML practitioners by giving them a basis for making hiring and promotion decisions. UML 2 Certification Guide is the only official study guide to passing the new UML exams. This book systematically covers all of the topics covered in the exams, and has been carefully reviewed by the OMG. The book begins by assuming only a basic knowledge of UML and then progresses far enough to allow a reader to pass both the fundamental and the intermediate level exams. Along the way the book also covers topics that are not in introductory books on UML but that are necessary to pass the exams. Tim Weilkiens is considered one of the top ten experts on UML, and both authors have extensive experience training developers to successfully take the exams.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 30, 2010
1. What makes this book unique.
2. Who this book is NOT for.
3. Who would benefit from this book.
1. UNIQUE
Unlike all other books I have seen on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), this book neither attempts to assist the reader in learning the UML, nor does it attempt to assist the reader in applying the UML. The reader will, of course, learn a great deal about the UML. In fact this book provides a detailed and methodical explanation of the UML meta-model, and may very well be the only book to do so (the only other source for this information, that I am aware of, is the UML Specification itself).
2. NOT
As stated above, this book does not assist the reader in learning UML. Most books introduce a small number of notation elements, explain them, and then add to that in a graduated fashion. This is like reading an I-Can-Read book, where core vocabulary is used over and over again, and new words won't be introduced until one picks up the next volume in the series. UML 2 Certification Guide is like reading a text about grammar principles that is written in the language itself, thus command of the language (in this case UML) is expected at the outset.
Don't bother looking into this book unless you are already familiar with UML notation, especially UML Class models. Most (if not all) of the notation gets explained eventually, but attempting to follow the presentation with only this text as a guide would invite unnecessary frustration. There are many good books available to learn the UML. Use one of those for that purpose.
Some people might be looking for practical advice on how to use the notations they have learned. This is decidedly not the book for you. There is no attempt to demonstrate application beyond the detailed example of the UML itself. Books on methodology exist; these generally depend upon your purpose. Are you a Business Analyst or a Software Engineer? The right book for you is out there, but this isn't it.
3. BENEFIT
I enjoyed this book. I first learned about the Meta-Object Facility (MOF) when reading Model Driven Architecture and Ontology Development, by Gasevic, et al. I have read multiple books that explain how to read or apply the UML. Speaking as an ontology geek, a book that provides a detailed meta-model for the humble lifeline is really cool. So, if you are interested in learning about the UML meta-model, or are already familiar with UML notation, but want a deep-dive into what makes the UML a formal language, I can easily recommend this book.
I would like to recommend this book more broadly. The purpose of the book is to prepare for UML Certification (the OCUP). Unfortunately I have never seen a job announcement that mentions OCUP, and requests I have made in professional groups about the utility of the OCUP have been ignored. I can only assume the OCUP is unknown and unused by the general software engineering and business analysis communities, so reading this book for its original purpose is unlikely to have a professional payoff.
2. Who this book is NOT for.
3. Who would benefit from this book.
1. UNIQUE
Unlike all other books I have seen on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), this book neither attempts to assist the reader in learning the UML, nor does it attempt to assist the reader in applying the UML. The reader will, of course, learn a great deal about the UML. In fact this book provides a detailed and methodical explanation of the UML meta-model, and may very well be the only book to do so (the only other source for this information, that I am aware of, is the UML Specification itself).
2. NOT
As stated above, this book does not assist the reader in learning UML. Most books introduce a small number of notation elements, explain them, and then add to that in a graduated fashion. This is like reading an I-Can-Read book, where core vocabulary is used over and over again, and new words won't be introduced until one picks up the next volume in the series. UML 2 Certification Guide is like reading a text about grammar principles that is written in the language itself, thus command of the language (in this case UML) is expected at the outset.
Don't bother looking into this book unless you are already familiar with UML notation, especially UML Class models. Most (if not all) of the notation gets explained eventually, but attempting to follow the presentation with only this text as a guide would invite unnecessary frustration. There are many good books available to learn the UML. Use one of those for that purpose.
Some people might be looking for practical advice on how to use the notations they have learned. This is decidedly not the book for you. There is no attempt to demonstrate application beyond the detailed example of the UML itself. Books on methodology exist; these generally depend upon your purpose. Are you a Business Analyst or a Software Engineer? The right book for you is out there, but this isn't it.
3. BENEFIT
I enjoyed this book. I first learned about the Meta-Object Facility (MOF) when reading Model Driven Architecture and Ontology Development, by Gasevic, et al. I have read multiple books that explain how to read or apply the UML. Speaking as an ontology geek, a book that provides a detailed meta-model for the humble lifeline is really cool. So, if you are interested in learning about the UML meta-model, or are already familiar with UML notation, but want a deep-dive into what makes the UML a formal language, I can easily recommend this book.
I would like to recommend this book more broadly. The purpose of the book is to prepare for UML Certification (the OCUP). Unfortunately I have never seen a job announcement that mentions OCUP, and requests I have made in professional groups about the utility of the OCUP have been ignored. I can only assume the OCUP is unknown and unused by the general software engineering and business analysis communities, so reading this book for its original purpose is unlikely to have a professional payoff.
May 11, 2010
This book is a good basic overview of the OCUP Fundamental and Intermediate exam. On the other hand, it contains hell of mistakes. You must think about what you read and you should compare the text with standard.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews