The complexity of UML: Differentiating practical and theoretical complexity

• Main Authors: ERICKSON, J., SIAU, Keng
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2004
• Subjects: Databases and Information Systems
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/9647; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sis_research/article/10647/viewcontent/The_complexity_of_UML.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

UML (Unified Modeling Language) has been criticized for its complexity, relating to users, and those learning to use it. Using Rossi and Brinkkemper’s [9] complexity metrics, Siau and Cao [10] completed a complexity analysis of UML and 36 other modeling techniques, finding that UML is indeed more complex than other techniques. Siau, Erickson and Lee [11] argued that Rossi and Brinkkemper’s metrics present the theoretical maximum complexity, as opposed to a practitioner-based complexity, that must be less than the theoretical maximum. The current research proposes that a subset of UML (a kernel) composed of the most commonly used constructs, would be more representative of the complexity that practitioners face when using the modeling language. A Delphi study is conducted using practitioners as experts, in an attempt to identify a use-based UML kernel and a practical complexity of UML. The differences between theoretical and practical complexity of UML are discussed.