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Subject:Data Flow Diagrams vs Use Cases From:"Anthony Markatos" <tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com> To:chris -at- bdk -dot- net, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Thu, 20 Jan 2000 08:29:03 PST
Chris:
I have not read that book, however most of the James Martin series books are
well written.
FYI: My all time favorite quote: "It is only by following the flow of data
[using Data Flow Diagrams] that it is possible to understand the underlying
logic of a system." Tom DeMarco, 'Structured Systems Analysis and
Specifications'.
That statement is a true today as it was 25 years ago (when DeMarco wrote
the book.) Many believe that DFDs are "cave-man-like" tools. A current
rave (for task/function analysis) in the OO culture is Use Cases. But Use
Cases are just stripped-down Data Flow Diagrams. Indeed, the primary input
used to create a currently very popular book on Use Cases (Larry
Constantine's 'Essential Use Cases') was a book on creating essential Data
Flow Diagrams (called 'Essential Systems Analysis' - I forgot the two
author's names).
Use Cases are merely DFDs with the interfacing data flows removed.
Original Question:
I don't know what Mr. Markatos thinks of this author, but I found
James Martin, Recommended Diagramming Standards for Analysts and
Programmers: A Basis for Automation (Prentice-Hall, 1987) to be a very
informative resource.
Chris Kowalchuk
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