What CASE tools do you use?

Question

What computer software development tools do you use and why? How do they increase your productivity or help develop your programs? Or if you are not using CASE tools, what are your reasons for this?

Answer 1

The best CASE tool I've worked with is Enterprise Architect from Sparx .

It's light in weight compared to Rose (easier to buy and cheaper), but extremely powerful. You could make great UML diagrams or a database model or anything else you want, but in a beautiful and organized way.

This helps a lot in the initial stages of the development process, since you could create a domain model, make some preliminary use cases, compare them with the requirements and present all this in a beautiful way for the client. It helps me to think, and I will reorganize my design until I am satisfied to start the proper documentation. It is also very good for database models, since it can very easily reconstruct most databases.

The only (but pretty serious) flaw he has in my eyes is that his documentation generator is, to put it mildly, crap. Obtaining the correct document from it is almost impossible if you do not invest a significant part of the work in templates, and then it will be only OK.

Answer 2

Oracle Designer

Answer 3

Do not use. No money for them.

Answer 4

I have used Rational Rose and several other similar packages in the past. I mainly used them for UML diagram elements and did not deal with more detailed functions such as code generation, etc.

I mainly use them to help the design process and clarify my own ideas. Often I find that when trying to come up with a design for the linker, I ultimately need to write / draw what I want so that I can get a clear overview in my mind of what is going to happen and why. I found that in many cases, what I end up trying to do is essentially the same as a predefined diagram in UML, like an example usage diagram, etc., and then using this style, it becomes easier to get mine ideas on paper, as I have some framework for working inside.

So, I use CASE tools mainly for my UML / design tools at a high, semi-abstract level.