I have to admit that I am lured into the pocket size form factor used by O’Reilly and others. The cute baby animals on the cover, like the gorilla on the front of the “UML 2.0 – Pocket Reference“ is just fun. I also have “The Elements of UML Style“ in the same easy to consume and not really pocket sized size. Parts of this review also apply to both pocket books, but the majority is about the UML 2.0 – Pocket Reference.
If you do actually end up bringing this “pocket” reference around with you then great, but consider when will you actually use it. While you are walking around the park thinking about UML and all of its confusing details? This book only covers syntax and usage, not really semantics which is where most people struggle anyhow, as the semantics and detailed syntax consume over 1000 pages. You could bring it to meetings and wow people with perfect diagrams. Again, this book might help with that, but how often are you drawing a diagram on the white board and everyone is confused because you lines are not specific enough, or the shape is just not right. This does not happen because the people in the meeting have the context of the conversation and thus do not need perfection, the drawing is just a tool to move the conversation forward not get hung up on syntax, semantic maybe, but this book won’t help with that beyond the bare surface.
Additionally this spartan “pocket” reference decided to include OCL, which is 5 pages long. Distilling a language, context, and usage in 5 tiny pocket pages really was just a waste of space. There are 100+ page books on OCL to do it justice, if the book is even current or matches your implementation of UML.
It seems far more rational to make your own pocket guide using a print out from websites with examples or the front and back flaps of
UML Distilled, by Martin Fowler. This follows the 80/20 approach in that you get 80% of the value with 20% of the cost and complexity. Pick the diagrams or elements you typically use, such as classes and components or sequence diagrams and limit your pocket guide to those. Or just bring your laptop and have some favorite UML sites bookmarked.
Finally if they are really trying to make a reference, create tabs for the sections at least, having to look up the page in the front or term in the back is not very efficient if you use the book frequently. And if you are like me and the pocket references end up on a bookshelf they don’t even fit in, the black sheep of your library.
I like most people, I suspect, especially software architects and programmers, dream of white boards on every wall floor to ceiling. I have wanted this for some time for my office so I could doodle hours away in my office getting dizzy on the dry erase fumes. In the past I had looked for a quality product and failed, until now. Visiting my undergraduate college (St. Olaf) the computer science for it’s brand new shared building has for entire rooms painted a white board surface onto the walls. STUNNING! Want to convey an idea, design a group project, doodle, noodle, or whatever, just walk up to a wall. I hope it holds up and I hope to get around to painting my office soon. I think they are using one of the more expensive products, IdeaBoard, but I am emailing the school to double check.
Finally a canvas large enough to hold all of the crazy UML diagrams and brainstorms.
I am voting earth, this blog post is my digital post for balance. You don’t have to eat grass and walk to work to be green. Tonight I will go for a walk at 8:30 once the lights are turned off and then play cards, heck I won’t have to code/program. I enjoy life, and I do it smart, they are not XOR or mutually exclusive.
The phrase reduce, reuse, recycle is in order for a reason.
1. Reduce your consumption: If a person were to buy an H2 Hummer maintain it and drive it for a life time it would be better for the environment than a person who buys a new hybrid every time it comes out. The most expensive part of a car environmentally is typically its construction, assuming it is maintained (ya know keeps a muffler). I buy quality items that will last a long time so I am buying fewer things. I also make an effort to buy fewer things in general, less to clutter my house and the landfills. Like tonight at 8:30 I am turning the lights/heater out. Don’t accept the free printers that come with computers unless you need it. I have 3 in my office right now that people gave me when they got new free ones. They still worked and have ink. Don’t always fall into the trap of buying a new energy efficient thing and
The interesting thing about the economic down turn is that I suspect in general it is good for the environment as more people figure out how not to buy things they don’t really need. Think about cars the most complex common commodity off late years production/sales by 40-50%. That means fewer new cars built hurting the environment and more local repairs to maintain existing cars.
2. Reuse: I buy used cars and maintain them, they are quality cars that will last a long time. Stretch a computer out another year by replacing the one slow component like a graphics card or the memory. Turn down the heat in your house and turn up the heat near you with blankets etc. In the summer get used to warmer temps and use a low power fan to maximize cool air. Give away what is still good shape or EBay.
3. Recycle: Finally when you can keep something no longer and no one else wants it then do the right thing and recycle what you can. Be reasonable at least. If dell offers free or near free recycling for computers do it. Save your electronics for free events that are offered once a year, at least in the us.
