A Methodological Assistant for UML and SysML Use Case Diagrams

Abstract

Use case driven analysis is the corner stone of software and systems modeling in UML and SysML, respectively. A use case diagram identifies the main functions to be offered by the system and showcases the interactions between in-system use cases and out-system users. Identifying and organizing use cases requires good abstraction skills. Therefore, many students and industry practitioners face methodological problems in writing good use cases. Many books and tutorials have addressed the subject. Nevertheless, integration of use case elaboration principles into a UML or SysML tool still remains an open issue. This paper proposes solutions and discusses implementation in a methodological assistant named UCCheck. The latter helps use case diagrams designers to rely on formalized rules and reuse of previous diagrams to create and review their use case diagrams. Implemented in Python, UCCheck is interfaced with the free SysML software TTool and with Cameo Systems Modeler, leaving doors open for other UML or SysML tools.