Picturing Architecture: UML (The Good Bits) and More from Pluralsight

This course shows you how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment. It takes you through the design process, covering everything from story cards to representing complex activity flows.

You can't program effectively (or talk about your program effectively) without pictures, particularly in an Agile environment, where communication is central. This course, Picturing Architecture: UML (The Good Bits) and More, shows you how to communicate software concepts and structure using pictures or equivalent. You'll see how to represent stories and how to organize them effectively using index cards. You'll learn how to represent and organize stories and take them through the design process. You'll also learn how to represent complex activity flows, translate those flows into a messaging system, organize and represent the classes in your system, and represent the behavior of an object when that behavior changes with state. You'll learn about Story Cards, Story Maps, CRC-card walls (a system developed by the author), and a version of UML that's optimized for the whiteboard and adapted to modern Agile practice. By the end of this course, you'll be able to use pictures to communicate your program effectively within the Agile environment to others.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction: Designing in an Agile World

Organizing Stories

Diagramming Activities

Visualizing Message Flow

Determining Class Relationships

Representing State-based Behavior

Summing up (And What's Missing)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in visualizing architecture using pictures

Provides a strong foundation for intermediate learners in visualizing architecture using pictures

Taught by Allen Holub, recognized for their work in design patterns and architecture

Covers topics relevant to software development and Agile environments

Introduces learners to a version of UML optimized for Agile practice

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Picturing Architecture: UML (The Good Bits) and More with these activities:

Review object-oriented programming concepts

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Refresh your understanding of object-oriented programming principles to prepare for the course's focus on software architecture.

Browse courses on Object-Oriented Programming

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Review your notes from previous courses on object-oriented programming.
Do practice problems on object-oriented programming.

Review software design principles

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Understand the fundamentals of software design to lay a strong foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Software Design

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Read a book or article about software design principles.
Review your notes from previous courses on software design.
Do practice problems on software design.

Discuss software architecture design with peers

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Exchange knowledge and perspectives on software architecture design with other students, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

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Find a study partner or group.
Set up regular meetings to discuss software architecture design topics.
Share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback.

Six other activities

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Follow tutorials on UML modeling

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Become familiar with UML modeling to effectively visualize and communicate software architecture.

Browse courses on UML

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Find online tutorials on UML modeling.
Follow the tutorials and practice creating UML diagrams.
Apply UML modeling to a small software design project.

Practice drawing activity diagrams

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Enhance your ability to represent complex activity flows using activity diagrams.

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Find practice problems or exercises on drawing activity diagrams.
Draw activity diagrams for different scenarios.

Gather resources on software architecture best practices

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Curate a collection of valuable resources on software architecture best practices to enhance your knowledge and stay up-to-date.

Browse courses on Software Architecture

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Search for online articles, books, and videos on software architecture best practices.
Organize the resources into a central location.

Create a visual representation of a software architecture

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Deepen your understanding of software architecture by creating a visual representation using tools or techniques covered in the course.

Browse courses on Software Architecture

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Choose a software architecture to represent.
Select a tool or technique for creating the visual representation.
Create the visual representation.
Present or share your visual representation with others.

Read "Agile Software Development with UML, Second Edition" by Larman

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Gain insights into agile software development and the effective use of UML for software architecture.

View Agile and Iterative Development on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Apply the concepts to a practical project.

Develop a software architecture proposal for an agile project

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Integrate the course concepts by creating a comprehensive software architecture proposal that aligns with Agile principles.

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Define the project scope and goals.
Analyze the project requirements.
Design the software architecture.
Write the software architecture proposal.

Career center

Learners who complete Picturing Architecture: UML (The Good Bits) and More will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and manages the implementation of a project. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in communicating with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes the business needs of an organization and designs and develops solutions to meet those needs. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in communicating with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, analyzes, and interprets data to identify trends and patterns. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in presenting data in a clear and concise manner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

A Product Manager manages the development and launch of a product. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in communicating with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer writes documentation for software applications. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in creating clear and concise documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst analyzes the business needs of an organization and designs and develops solutions to meet those needs. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in communicating with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Architect

A Software Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of a software application. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment. It takes you through the design process, covering everything from story cards to representing complex activity flows.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Software Tester

A Software Tester tests software applications to ensure that they meet the requirements of the users. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in communicating with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Tester

Database Architect

A Database Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of a database. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Architect

Enterprise Architect

An Enterprise Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of an enterprise. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Enterprise Architect

Technical Architect

A Technical Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of a technical solution. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Architect

Solution Architect

A Solution Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of a solution. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solution Architect

Systems Architect

A Systems Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of a computer system. This course may be useful for this role because it teaches how to visualize and communicate architecture using pictures, which is essential in an Agile environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Architect