Object method schools are acting up; squabbles still noted, but some convergence appears - software object methods begin to converge

Software Magazine,  July, 1995  by Jack Vaughan

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Software's emerging object modeling segment mirrors elements of a predecessor Case segment in at least one important way -- both can be somewhat arcane. Methodologies, particularly, have a way of spawning offshoots, some of which only make sense to the parent of the methodology in question.

That's changing, say some players. Key object methods -- such as the Booch, Rumbaugh and Jacobson techniques -- may come to resemble each other. The possibility that convergence might occur became more pronounced last year when Rational Software Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., gained the talents of James Rumbaugh, whose name is at the head of the list responsible for the Rumbaugh Method. (The term "OMT," for Object Modeling Technique, is often used in reference to the Rumbaugh Method.)

Rational had already counted methodologist Grady Booch as part of its organization. Together, the Rumbaugh and Booch methodologies, according to International Data Corp. (IDC) estimates, control over 50% of the object market. Others place these figures even higher. The presence of the two noted object design gurus in one company at least suggests that some pairing of their techniques might be in order.

Detente would be welcome. In the past, the object modeling crew has sometimes been most notable for its squabbles. But many say that true success with object software will not arrive until proper modeling techniques are employed.

Makers of object modeling software include Rational Software, Cadre Technologies, Providence, R.I., Interactive Development Environments (IDE), San Francisco, Intersolv, Rockville, Md., Objectory, Stamford, Conn., Object Systems, Lincoln, Mass., ProtoSoft, Houston, and Select Software Tools, Santa Ana, Calif. With strong roots in the structured methods battles of the Case era, Rational, Cadre and IDE might be classified as established vendors seeking to foster evolutionary approaches that build on their corporate backgrounds.

Players such as ProtoSoft may simply be newer to the game, or in the case of Objectory, newer to these shores. Or, like Select Software, the player may be known for a concentration on the Microsoft Windows platform, rather than on the workstation that was once the prime object software design engine.

IDC estimated that, in revenue, Cadre was the market leader for object-oriented analysis and design tools in 1994. But, their leader's mantle is hotly contested, and the path that lies ahead is not a simple one.

Included in Cadre's modeling line is a Shlaer-Mellor toolset best-suited for embedded software projects. Moreover, Cadre's existing Rumbaugh line is based on software licensed from ProtoSoft, which aborted its two-year deal with Cadre earlier this year. Perhaps in response, Cadre gained a new pedigree of object modeling software in April when it agreed to merge with Westmount Technology BV of Delft, The Netherlands, makers of I-Case OMT.

Boxes or Clouds

Object methodologies are needed to bring order to the chaos that can occur when teams of programmers start to create theoretically interchangeable object software modules. Object methodologies are important for "anybody who really wants to leverage not just the models, and not just the code, but who also wants to rework their business processes," said Adrian Bowles, managing director, Atelier Research, Westport, Conn.

Some modern object-oriented methodologies date back to 1991 when two separate groups published the results of their OO research. At that time, Grady Booch published his first book on the Booch Methodology, while James Rumbaugh et al. published the first results of research on Object Modeling Technique conducted at General Electric.

There have been signs of convergence since then. In 1993, Booch published a revised book on his methodology, which incorporates some ideas from Rumbaugh's work, among others.

"[Object-oriented languages like] C++ and Smalltalk at some point become too complex to understand," said Peter Pircher, chief technical officer, IDE.

Said Pircher, "Two years ago there was a lot of confusion about methods. People argued about rectangles vs. clouds. Fortunately for users this has settled down.

"Clearly, there is today a convergence of methods," he continued. "The concepts get very similar." The parents of methods don't steal from each other, Pircher jokes, "they reuse from each other."

At last month's Object Expo show in New York City, IDE demonstrated its Software Through Pictures (StP) for BPR product, which helps to automate business process model creation. IDE has also introduced a version of StP said to support easy blending of Booch and OMT methods.

Some players see recent developments -- where Booch and OMT or Rumbaugh (with perhaps a twist of Jacobson "use" cases) are said to be blending -- as not a case of convergence at all. Instead, what they see is the ascent of OMT. "There is a significant amount of confusion in the market," said Claudia Coleman, executive vice president of U.S. operations for Select Software Tools. "Vendors are trying to be all things for all people."