Menu

Already obsolete

Anonymous
2014-11-01
2014-11-23
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2014-11-01

    Hi,

    nice work but... are we already obsolete? It seems that the Korean guys that created StarUML in first place are back on track... http://staruml.io/

    I tried their software and it looks very nice graphically.. what component do you think they use for the diagrams? it's much better than before

     

    Last edit: Anonymous 2014-11-01
  • Janusz Szpilewski

    Yes, I noticed their presence. You may also take a look at http://sourceforge.net/projects/starumlns. It looks that the scene becomes quite crowded last days however it seems that the latter guys decided they were not StarUML after all.

    StarUML 2 is a fresh start not using the Delphi code anymore. They code it on top of the Adobe Brackets editor which is built on top of Google Developer Tools which run on top of the Chromium browser. Being so disjunctive from the original StarUML code it will never be 100% compatible and people with investment in their custom plugins, extensions or the documentation generator in many cases will not be able to use them.

    But of course being a fresh start StarUML 2 may be more innovative by adding new diagrams, going multiplatofrm etc. So it is up to the users to decide which approach - more innovative or conservative better fits their needs. Anyway I believe there is place for both.

     
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2014-11-01

    Thank you for your feedback Janusz.. do you think we can achieve some fresh look for diagrams also in Delphi White StarUML?

     
  • Janusz Szpilewski

    This is a bit tricky problem as fresh look may mean various things to various persons. The current one follows closely the UML standard so probably should be kept as the default one. However there are several ways of customization using stereotypes or extended notation. It requires some effort but may be used to make the diagram look exactly the way you want. Recently I migrated the parser of extended notation files (.nxt) from the old ProGrammar parser to .NET so now all related code is under control and it may be reviewed and extended if needed.

     
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2014-11-01

    I understand, but what I meant was the actual look and feel of lines, shadows and so far. Check the StarUML2.0 and you'll get what I mean. It's not about changing the standard (they are UML compliant as well), but more about the GUI resolution and this kind of things. Basically a brand new rendering capability without changing the basics. Is there any Delphi module that would re-render the images, produced in the same way, so that it appears more modern?

     
  • Janusz Szpilewski

    Diagrams in StarUML 2 indeed are rendered as the program runs on top of a web browser. Some things may look nicer but there are also opinions that the diagrams look blurred as antialiasing is always applied. It suggests that many things are a matter of taste and such enhancements should be fully configurable.

    WhiteStarUML uses at present the straight Windows GDI encapsulated in Delphi by TCanvas. I already thought about using GDI+ features in DevExpress components or even adapting Direct2D. It would help with such effects like transparency, gradients or shadows but of course implementing it and integrating with the entire program would require some work and time and resources behind this project are quite limited. But finally such a thing is truly possible.

     
  • Michal

    Michal - 2014-11-05

    Hi
    Two words from me :)

    1. StarUML2 look nice, but license policy is not yet determined. "...most probable license model is similar to Sublime Text." - this mean, that maybe StarUML2 become "proprietary software" status, and this mean, that it can be not free or with limitations and without access to source.

    2. Fresh look and feel - OK, but please, don't forget to preserve balance - I think: Better be fast and raw, than sloooow and pretty.

     
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous - 2014-11-23

    I think this is in the true spirit of Open Source. Everyone can and should have a go at the code. Major kudos to Janusz for using and updating the StarUML code. I hope each project benefits from the other. Even if the StarUML2 tool ends up as a proprietary software, as long as they respect the Open Source letter and spirit on the code that is GPL, then all the better for everyone.

    P.S. in fairness, judging from the screenshots in the StarUML NS website, I'm not sure it is an improvement...

     

    Last edit: Anonymous 2014-11-23

Anonymous
Anonymous

Add attachments
Cancel





Want the latest updates on software, tech news, and AI?
Get latest updates about software, tech news, and AI from SourceForge directly in your inbox once a month.