11.1 Introduction

This chapter discusses tools that may be used for UML modelling and, in some cases, for general systems engineering tasks. The main aim of this chapter is to provide information and guidelines that describe how to make an informed decision when choosing a tool.

At the end of the day, if you are carrying out any form of UML modelling, you will need to consider obtaining some sort of tool for assistance. Tools range from the very basic, such as a simple PAPS (paper and pen system) tool, to a full-blown, interactive 'environment', but which sort of tool will be right for you? Tools can be expensive, very expensive! It is therefore absolutely essential to know your requirements when choosing a tool and to make sure that your requirements drive the choice of tool, rather than the other way around.

No specific tools will be mentioned explicitly in this chapter as the tool market fluctuates very quickly. The functionality of tools changes enormously from one version to another, or from one configuration to another. The marketplace itself is still quite unstable with larger companies swallowing up smaller ones in order to take over their market share or, in a slightly more sinister way, to remove a competitor from the market altogether.

Some companies are quick to dispel their competition with swift statements, while others produce reports and comparison tables between their tools and their competitors'. It is worth remembering where tool vendors actually...