- ICONIX
"ICONIX" is a software development methodology which predates both the
Rational Unified Process (RUP),Extreme Programming (XP) andAgile software development . Like RUP, the ICONIX process is UML Use Case driven but more lightweight than RUP. Unlike the XP and Agile approaches, ICONIX provides sufficient requirement and design documentation, but without analysis paralysis. The ICONIX Process uses only four UML based diagrams in a four step process that turns use case text into working code.A principle distinction of ICONIX is its use of [http://iconixprocess.com/iconix-process/analysis-and-preliminary-design/robustness-analysis/ robustness analysis] , a method for bridging the gap between analysis and design. Robustness analysis reduces the ambiguity in use case descriptions, by ensuring that they are written in the context of an accompanying
domain model . This process makes the use cases much easier to design, test and estimate.The ICONIX Process is described in the book "Use Case Driven Object Modeling with UML: Theory and Practice"ref|UCD.
Essentially, the ICONIX Process describes the core "logical" analysis and design modeling process. However, the process can be used without much tailoring on projects that follow different project management or agile methodologies. The book "Agile Development with ICONIX Process"ref|ADwIP describes how to use the ICONIX Process in an agile project.
Overview of the ICONIX Process
The ICONIX process is split up into four milestones. At each stage the work for the previous milestone is reviewed and updated.
Milestone 1: Requirements review
Before beginning the ICONIX process there needs to have been some
requirements analysis done. From this analysis use cases can be identified, adomain model produced and someprototype GUIs made.Milestone 2: Preliminary Design Review
Once use cases have been identified text can be written describing how the user and system will interact. A robustness analysis is performed to find potential errors in the use case text and the domain model is updated accordingly. The use case text is important for identifying how the users will interact with the intended system. They also provide the developer with something to show the
Customer and verify that the results of the requirements analysis were correct.Milestone 3: Detailed Design Review
During this stage of the ICONIX process the domain model and use case text from milestone 2 are used to design the system being built. A
class diagram is produced from the domain model and the use case text is used to makesequence diagrams .Milestone 4: Deployment
Unit tests are written to verify the system will match up to the use case text, and sequence diagrams. Finally code is written using the class and sequence diagrams as a guide.
References
* 1. Rosenberg, D. & Stephens, M. (2007). "Use Case Driven Object Modeling with UML: Theory and Practice". Apress. (ISBN 1590597745)
* 2. Rosenberg, D., Stephens, M. & Collins-Cope, M. (2005). "Agile Development with ICONIX Process". Apress. (ISBN 1590594649)Related Concepts
*
Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
*Extreme Programming
*Rational Unified Process
*URDAD , the Use Case Driven Analysis and Design methodology is a methodology for technology neutral design.External links
* [http://www.iconixprocess.com/ ICONIX Process website]
* [http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=167902 Introduction to the Iconix Process]
* [http://www.agilemodeling.com/artifacts/robustnessDiagram.htm Robustness Diagrams]
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