RHAPSODY4YOU

Is there a good way to include C++ smart pointers in UML class diagrams? For example, if class A has a member that is a smart pointer that points to class B, I would like the diagram to show B as a member of A, not simply show the smart pointer as a member of A. Alternatively, I would like to show that A has a smart pointer as a member and that the smart pointer is instantiated by B. More generally, when a template is instantiated, how can I show the dependence on the template and on the class (or classes) used to instantiate the template?

Thanks,

Stephan

Hi Stephan,

regarding your smart-pointer issue: It seems as you were trying to show implementation details in your UML. The penetration of implementation and design is the biggest problem when using Rhapsody because Rhapsody enforces it. Rhapsody only knows one variant to implement a composition, association, ... which usually doesn't fit my idea of implementation. So you start fiddling with your UML and properties until you achieve the desired implementation. With Rhapsody your whole spectrum of expressiveness in the implementation language is cut down to a pathetic subset.

I also were in the situation where I wanted to use a smart pointer. I ended up with simply adding an attribute to class A with "non-existing type" smart_pointer<B>. Then of course you don't see the dependency from A to B in you UML as you already mentioned.

I know that this won't be of much help.

Kind regards,
Christian

Smart pointers often lead to not so smart architectures. If you find that Rhapsody's 'pathetic subset' is insufficient then perhaps you are making things more complicated than they need to be.

You can achieve portable component-based design very easily in Rhapsody without resorting to clever coding tricks.