I am proud to announce that the TextUML Toolkit reached version 1.0!
It is basically the same as the RC3 build, made available earlier this week, with version numbers updated to reflect the status of release. You can download the TextUML Toolkit 1.0 from here.
Even if it still preserves the same humble look & feel, the TextUML Toolkit has come a long way since the first public milestone was announced here more than a year ago:
- M1 – May 2007
- website went live
- first public milestone
- M2 – September 2007
- graphical class diagram visualization for Windows only (spawned as a brand new open-source project, EclipseGraphviz)
- support for enumerations
- M3 – March 2008
- reverse engineering of UML2 models as TextUML source (aka textual browsing)
- diagram rendering also on Linux and Mac OS/X
- click-through license
- better stability and performance
- website improvements: added user forum (SMF)
- M4 – May 2008
- duplicate symbols properly reported as compilation errors
- TextUML source renderer showing nested packages
- evaluated a few code generators (Acceleo, oAW xPand, EMF JET), chose Acceleo
- first milestone available via update site
- M5 – June 2008
- fixed a serious memory leak caused by UML2 caching
- several bug fixes
- decoupled the TextUML Toolkit from EclipseGraphviz (EG becoming just a possible integration)
- website improvements: wiki-based (MediaWiki) documentation area
- 1.0 – July 2008
- support for applying stereotypes to stereotypes
- provided a Pet Store-like sample application
- more, better documentation
On the outreach front: in December, I did a quick presentation of the TextUML Toolkit during the Eclipse DemoCamp in Vancouver, and had the opportunity of doing a longer, more detailed presentation at the VIJUG’s meeting in April. At both opportunities, receptivity to the project was quite good. People seemed very keen on the idea of UML models as text, and I got lots of interesting questions.
In early June, I joined many other fellow mISVers in the 30-day product challenge. Even though I didn’t achieve everything I had set out to do, I am quite happy for having been part of it, as it provided me with the strength and courage to finally ship the first release.
Overall, I am quite happy with the current state of the TextUML Toolkit (or else I would not have declared a release). On the other hand, I confess I am disappointed that interest has not picked up yet, considering it is a free tool that provides real value. Now that there is an example describing how to use the TextUML Toolkit and Acceleo for generating code from UML models (which is the main application of the tool), I hope the value of the tool will become more apparent. And I guess more attention to the marketing side of things won’t hurt.
For the next few months, I will be focusing on a more ambitious project I have hinted at here a couple of times before. During this time, I will be promoting the TextUML Toolkit, writing more documentation and examples, and fixing any bugs users might report, but I do not plan to develop any new features unless there is user demand.
Well, it has been a fun ride, and I appreciate the interest of those of you who have followed at least some part of the journey. Your comments on the blog have been very helpful and encouraging. Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
Rafael
