Used the Web as a source—mostly FreshMeat and Mario Jeckle’s excellent list Unified Modeling Language (UML) Tools.
There are several utilities for converting UML to source without displaying it, and others for converting source code to UML as XML files—I haven’t listed all of them.
I tried most of these tools. Many either didn’t work on my system, or were so complicated to install that I gave up. If I was required to give somebody my home address and so forth to get a demo, I didn’t bother.
I document four different capacities of these tools.
There is some overlap. For instance, any CASE tool also does Diagramming, and they usually also do Source-to-UML. An IDE is expected to do everything, but sometimes doesn’t do anything very well.
gathered 5/16/03 - updated 22/6/14 - updated but not checked 10/07/15
| Link | L i c | I D E | C A S E | Src -to- UML | D i a g | Envir | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArgoUML | O | x | x | Java | Very big and complete—but kinda slow and clumsy. WebStart version runs over Internet! | ||
| cpp2dia | O | x | TCL | imports C++ into Dia | |||
| Dia | G | x | gtk+/C | Generic diagramming tool. Very restrictive for UML. | |||
| Dia2Code | G | C | Converts Dia UML diagram to source code. | ||||
| FUJABA | G | x | x | x | Java | “From Uml to Java And Back Again” U. Paderborn Looks dead as of 2007 or so. | |
| Gaphor | G | x | gtk2/Python | Works; minimal; scriptable; generates SVG. | |||
| JGraphpad | G | x | Java | Generic vector graphics, from Sun | |||
| Open ModelSphere | G | x | x | Java | Grandite. Windows zip version runs in Linux. Have not located source yet. | ||
| PyUt | G | x | x | WX Python | UML 1.3 editor. Works. | ||
| Umbrello UML Modeller | G | x | KDE/C++ | Works. In development. Lots of messy bugs; clumsy interface. |
| R | free with restrictions |
| G | GNU |
| O | other open-source |
| Link | L i c | I D E | C A S E | Src -to- UML | D i a g | Envir | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jGRASP | R | x | x | x | x | Java | Auburn U. UML is just a view of project files. |
| MagicDraw | R | x | Java | Personal info in return for community edition | |||
| Poseidon for UML | R | x | x | x | Java | very limited Community edition, Full-featured but slow. Based on ArgoUML. | |
| Rational Rose Developer | C | x | Latest version has new name. Page for downloading demo, after bothering you with personal info, trips an internal failure that kills the process. It must be hard to be a big company. Poor IBM. | ||||
| JDeveloper | C | x | Java | Oracle. To get demo, requires personal info AND to sign up for a newsletter, then to assert you’re not a terrorist (otherwise they wouldn’t want you to get their newsletter!). It’s hard to be good when you’re big, but it’s easy to be funny! | |||
| Astah | R | x | x | J | x | Java | Have community edition with restricted features. Was previously JUDE. |
| AgileJ StructureViews | D | x | Java | (formerly Modelistic?) Model file is the Java source. Eclipse plug-in. | |||
| Objecteering | D | x | Java | Personal info in return for personal edition | |||
| Rhapsody | D | x | By Telelogic. Purchased by IBM, now called Rational Rhapsody. | ||||
| Together | D | x | Java | Micro Focus (formerly Borland). Eclipse plug-in | |||
| Visual Paradigm for UML | R | x | x | Java | Very big and complex, probably usable. Some bugs. Free edition saves/prints with watermark; has XML export, but XMI export disabled |
| C | commercial |
| D | commercial with demo |
| R | free with restrictions |
| Link | L i c | I D E | C A S E | Src -to- UML | D i a g | Envir | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOME | G | x | x | Smalltalk | Domain Modelling Environment--Library for Cincom’s VisualWorks Smalltalk 5 tool suite. From Honeywell. No devel since 2000, web site gone ‘10 | ||
| Ideogramic UML | R | x | x | Works. Interesting GUI ideas. Probably usable. A little rough around the edges. web site gone ‘11 | |||
| ObjectArtist | G | x | x | Java | Lots of libraries and Java packages not included. No devel since ‘01. Web site gone '15. | ||
| Jase | G | x | Java | For analyzing Java source. No change since ’01. | |||
| Dachshund | G | x | x | Gnome in C++/Python | Crashes on startup. No devel since ‘02 | ||
| Thorn | G | x | x | Java | Very Alpha. No dev since ‘03, sourceforge project disappeared ‘10 | ||
| Composum | D | Java | Web site gone. | ||||
| FreeCase | F | In hibernation since ‘01. Web site gone '15 | |||||
| JUMLi | R | x | Java | Windows CAB only. No further devel. Web site gone ‘10 | |||
| JVISION | C | x | x | Java | last devel ’02 09/09 web site times out | ||
| kUML | F | x | KDE in C++ | not functional. no change since Mar ‘01 | |||
| Object Domain | D | x | Java | Personal info in return for demo, web site gone ’11 | |||
| SoftModeler | D | x | Java | was by softera can’t find site | |||
| Object Domain | D | x | Java | Personal info in return for demo, web site gone ’11 | |||
| J2U | D | x | Java | Java to UML. E-mail for demo. Can't reach server '15. |
| C | commercial |
| D | commercial with demo |
| R | free with restrictions |
| G | GNU |
| O | other open-source |