IBM Rational has released new versions of its artefacts aimed at design and software development. Version 7 is also known as Caspian release, and all the products are based on Eclipse 3.2 platform.
Besides current option upgrades, the thing that makes the new version different from the old is (the) advanced support for service oriented architecture and the support for UML 2.1 specification. The goal of this new release is the best possible integration of all tools into a unique and integrated platform for software development - IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform. As is the case with use cases, UML serves as a standard in the field of modelling and designing software systems for many years now, and is therefore present in Caspian release Rational products in its latest specification. Concepts like Model Driven Architecture (MDA), Architecture Rapid Application Development (ARAD) and the like offer an excellent methodological setting for development acceleration. In their latest version, IBM Rational tools have integrated their interfaces and work approach into these concepts even more than before.
Picture 1: Structure of IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform
IBM Rational Software Modeller enables architects, system analysts and designers to specify and communicate about different aspects of the software project. The tool provides complete support for UML modelling, comparable/parallel development, architectural re-factoring, transformations form model into code or other model, implementation of one’s own or already included designers schemes and integration with a series of other products.
IBM Rational Data Architect in a modular and project based way combines the standard possibilities of data modelling with the possibilities of model mapping and analyzing. Creation and verification of logical, physical and domain models is supported. Physical models can be created form logical models or by transformation of existing databases via reverse engineering. Integration with the tools IBM Rational RequisitePro for requirements management and IBM Rational Clear Case for versioning provides for a shorter development period, team designing and the quality structure of a model that suits the original customer requirements.
Picture2: Screenshot of the IBM Rational Data Architect tool.
IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software (former WSAD) helps development teams in terms of quality to design, develop, analyze and test applications more rapidly.
IBM Rational Software Architect enables unification of all aspects of the software application architecture development. This tool gives life to MDA concepts and round-trip transformations in the fullest sense of the word. Technologically speaking, it brings together the possibilities of Rational Software Modeller and Rational Application Developer tools in a joint environment. The support for SOA, UML 2.1, web service, C++ as well as exceedingly large number of Java technologies makes him the most powerful development environment within IBM Rational product family.
