[comp.lang.smalltalk] OOA vs OOD

ikluft@uts.amdahl.com (Ian Kluft) (11/06/90)

[Please post followups to comp.object.]

Books discussed in this posting:
Object Oriented Design with Applications by Grady Booch
Object Oriented Analysis by Peter Coad and Edward Yourdon
(also Object Oriented Analysis and Information Modeling by Shlaer and Mellor)

In article <3634@vela.acs.oakland.edu> rdthomps@vela.acs.oakland.edu writes:
>	If you are looking for a brainstorming session on how to 
>	draw sketches of objects and the relationships between
>	them -- get Coad/Yourdons book (Haahmmm).
>
>	However, if you are looking for a very well written book
>	on Concepts, Methods, and Applications of the object
>	oriented model -- GET BOOCHS book.

The comparison here is between apples and oranges.  There are two major reasons
why the books are different.  One of them also explains why Booch's book
appears to be better in several ways.

First, they are different mostly because Coad/Yourdon's book is about object-
oriented *analysis*.  Booch's book is about object-oriented *design*.  OOA is
an advance in systems analysis.  It's where system requirements come from.
You should have requirements before you start to design.  It's a big deal to
large systems developers.  (Note: Yourdon has been one of the biggest names in
systems analysis for over a decade.)

Second, the Coad/Yourdon book is from 1988; Booch's was published this year.
One of Booch's references was Coad/Yourdon (and also Shlaer/Mellor's OOA book).
So one should not be surprised that Booch has improved on the object diagram-
ming notation.

But the content of the books are different.  I don't think it's fair to say
one is better than the other.  If you really want the whole picture, get
both.  I also strongly recommend Shlaer & Mellor's book.

[Extra disclaimer: These are my independent views and recommendations.  This
is not to be interpreted as an endorsement or opinion of Amdahl Corporation.]
-- 
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