CWM: a UML modeller in extJS and Draw2D

[pgiuseppe]

Hello,
I'm developing an application that generates a Domain Specific Language IDE with web 2.0 interface.
http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=195001

We call it CWM (Chronos Web Modeller)
Check it out here:
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/
http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=195001

This is a private server: feel free to test but don't count on performance.



The CWM aims is to create a model that is further used to generate documents and code.


We test (and support) Firefox only. A stable release will support all the major browser. Right now we are in an advanced alpha stadium.


We are developing the CWM with simplicity in mind.

Especially for the gathering of Requirements and use cases a complete modelling tool can be an over kill for the typical client.

Some Background

The Chronos metamodel is used as basis to describes an IT project.
In Chronos a Goal -is specified by--> Requirement ---is realized by a---> Feature---is detailed by a-> Use Case –that instantiates a-> Domain object.


Because this structure is generated rather that hard coded, if you have a project specific need, all you must do it to change the UML model
see below:
http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=195003



changing this model you completely change the applications objects.


Front end and backend are completely separated and communicate with JSON. Additionally also a SOAP interface is generated: see http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/application/soap.php for the generated API specification.

We are using EXTJS (http://extjs.com) and Draw2d (http://draw2d.org/draw2d/) as frameworks for the Java Script client and wCMF (http://wcmf.sourceforge.net/) for the PHP backend.




SPARX EnterpriseArchitect is used to model the UML while the generator is openArchitectureWare (openArchitectureWare.org ).
The generated Model can be exported in XMI (rational rose compatible).





The CWM is released under the Eclipse Common Licence and his source is available on the Project on sourceForge:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/


Submit your bugs here:
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=198381&atid=965248


as you can see some of them are already know.


if you have a feature request tell us!
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=198381&atid=965251

[Animal]

Looks like it's going to be impressive with a bit of polish put on it, but that comes later.

I don't understand how to make it work though. I can get a tree up in the lower TabPanel in the west, but then what?

[pgiuseppe]

create a diagram by right clicking on a package or open the tree until you see one of the the existing diagrams.

Now you can drag and drop elements in the diagram surface in the middle.

[eni.kao]

The usage of CWM is very desktop-like, not so much oriented at web applications. Therefore, some hints:


Almost all elements of the UI have context menus, So right-clicking anywhere is a good way to explore the application.
The other dominant usage pattern is drag & drop. For example, you can drag & drop new elements from the upper left corner to a diagram.
We've tried to automate things as much as possible. Therefore, you won't find any "save" button in the application -- everything is saved automatically in the background.

[Foggy]

I don't see the point of uml diagrams, a classic digram should be an amount of classes wich have properties, methods and some relations to other classes.
Here is a UML Demo from Draw2D http://draw2d.org/draw2d/files/demo/uml/index.html
I really don't know what i could do with your ChiBusinessPartnerPassive thing for example??

But else, nice idea, a Code generator for some languages would be nice ;)

[pgiuseppe]

I don't see the point of uml diagrams, a classic digram should be an amount of classes wich have properties, methods and some relations to other classes.

UML defines different types of diagrams, not only Class diagramm.
With the actual version you can create requirements and use case diagrams.
Classes will be supported in few weeks.


I really don't know what i could do with your ChiBusinessPartnerPassive thing for example??
To understand what you can do you need a basic of UML and knowledge of the Chronos Metamodel.
I have released the definition of the Chronos Metamodel here:
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=198381

e.g. a ChiBusinessPartnerPassive is a special type of UML Actor.
A ChiBusinesPartner is an external person that has a Business relation with the enterprise.
A ChiBusinesPartnerPassive is an indirect customer (typically a supplier) of the enterprise.


If you don't like those definitions you can modify the model and regenerate the WCM.
e.g. you can rename the ChiBusinesPartnerPassive, change his properties, change his relationships with other objects, etc.
The Editor will supportthe new definition, helping creating Models that are InstanceOf your metamodel.

[pgiuseppe]

We published the version 0.3 Beta Green of the Chronos Web Modeller.



You can test CWM green under:
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/


New features include:

Web 2.0 style Generator access.
UML 2 export
Complete help
Translation in 3 languages
Administration perspective
Autocomplete in rich text area (concept only)


We are especially proud of the “Web 2.0 oAW generator feature”. The “action” starts from the Java script client that calls the PHP backend that export a serialized XML of the Database objects.
This XML is given to the oAW generator that transform it to UML 2.0 (including stereotype).
I think is the first time that something similar was done.


In the next steps we will pass this model to another workflow that will generate the code.


Under the cover we have done a complete refactoring so that the code of the front end is now more object oriented.




To test the exported file you need a local copy of the Chronos profile.
You can download Chronos from Sourceforge:
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=198381


in the next weeks we will publish another Beta with following additional functions:

Documents Generation from the model
Classes diagrams modelling
Support for activity diagrams
Object locking for preventing concurrent update
Revertable history on object level

[pgiuseppe]

http://www.ordosolis.org/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/others/articles/Image/SVN/CWM%20Architecture.pngAfter the 3 weeks of hard work (see CWM 0.3 published (http://www.ordosolis.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1071&mode=&order=0)) we published the Beta version 0.5 of the Chronos Web Modeller. From this version on you can model online a complete Requirements Structure and then generate a Use Case analysis document in MS Word format.
To help you understand how the CWM can support you in a real life project we have modelled the EuroCom Company described in this Case Study

https://w3.tap.ibm.com/w3ki/images/icons/attachments/pdf.gif EuroCom_CaseStudy.pdf (http://www.ordosolis.org/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/others/articles/File/EuroCom_CaseStudy.pdf) 1.69 Mb.

You can test the CWM using FireFox 3.0 under:
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/

Support for additional browsers will be provided in the final release.
In the 0.5 you can import UML2 files with a Chronos profile edited with with other OpenSource Eclipse IDE (like TopCased).

The Word generator is based on a template structure so that is possible to write new reports. As far I know this is the first example of such a document generator available in a web 2.0 fashion. The model auto-complete functionality that was introduced as concept in the previous release is now working.

It supports a possibility to refer to existing object within a text area
To test it simply press shift + Space in a rich text area.
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/help/index_html_3e02c0f9.jpg

Near the new features we improved the stability of the CWM, correcting bugs related to UTF8 errors, non working “select as grid” action and much more.
Stay tuned.

[pgiuseppe]

The Olympos team is proud to announce the release of the Chronos Web Tools (CWT) 0.9.5.
https://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=222996
try it under:
Modeller
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/

Browser
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/Browser/

Download It:
You can download the installation package it from the sourceforge development page:https://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/

ABOUT
The CWT family includes the CWM , a collaborative tool for the creation of UML models and the Chronos Web Browser for Model reporting.

WHAT IS NEW
This is minor release that aims to improve the stability of the system. Especially we have improved the UML export of big models and documents.
Noteworthy is the revised export assistant for documents with the possibility to export in PDF.
A Glossary is now available for describing important words within the Model.A new stereotype for configuration allows to model the application's setup.

[pgiuseppe]

The Olympos team is proud to announce the release of the Chronos Web Tools (CWT) 0.9.7.
You can download the installation package it from the Source Forge development page:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/


http://www.ordosolis.org/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/others/articles/Image/SVN/cwm_codegeneration.jpg
(https://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/)
ABOUT
The CWT family includes the CWM , a collaborative tool for the creation of UML models and the Chronos Web Browser for Model reporting.
WHAT IS NEW
This release adds some functionality that improves the CWM’s productivity.
The CWM now includes the capability to start the Chronos generator directly from the web.
This means that you will be able to model a complete application online based on ewxtJS 3.0) and to see immediately the result. In the next days we will release a detailed tutorial on code generation.
Another important feature is the capability to translate models in different languages.
This is fundamental in projects that have an international audience (off shore development).

[pgiuseppe]

The Olympos team is happy to announce the release of the Chronos Web Tools (CWT) 0.9.8.3


ABOUT
The CWT family includes the CWM , a collaborative tool for the creation of UML models and the Chronos Web Browser for Model reporting. Front end is written in extJS and Draw2D, backend in PHP.
It is released under the EPL.



CHECK IT OUT!

test the last version of the CWM:
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/gui/


and CWB:
http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/browser/ (http://cwm.nikostotz.de/demo/browser/)



You can download the installation package it from the Source Forge development page:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/ (http://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/)

(http://sourceforge.net/projects/olympos/)



WHAT IS NEW
This release adds important features.
This includes PHP 5.3 compatibility, the ability to export diagrams images in documents (Beta), capability to model complex Use Cases diagrams:
Starting from a Use case with an activity the user can now generate a ChiController.
http://sourceforge.net/apps/wordpress/olympos/nfs/project/o/ol/olympos/uploads/2009/11/usecases.png