umldataflow-diagram

What is the UML analogue to the Data Flow Diagram from Structured Analysis?


Back in the Dark Ages (mid-1980s), I used Data Flow Diagrams from Structured Analysis a fair amount, and found them very useful.

My current employer loves UML. I normally use BOUML, which doesn't do non-UML drawings.

What is the UML drawing that corresponds to the Data Flow Diagram?

If there isn't one, what is the recommended UML diagram to present the corresponding data?


Solution

  • Probably the closest thing is the activity diagram. It's not quite the same; more influenced by flow chart than dfd. However: you can do some of the useful things in DFDs, e.g. ADs do support concurrency and differentiate control flow from dataflow.

    More details on comparisons & differences in this question.

    [fwiw, I still use DFDs: they're simpler and more elegant in many circumstances]

    hth.