TOT Consulting

Learning Together

Welcome to TRAck on Track Consulting, home of UML Operator

Getting started on Modeling for Software and Systems Delivery? Working on understanding Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE), Unified Modeling Language (UML), and other delivery approaches? Here and in our channels we demonstrate tooling and approach to accomplish these objectives.

Instead of "Consulting", it should be "Sharing", "Learning", or "Working Together". Our focus, over several decades, has been on computer aided design (CAD) and modeling approaches, particularly UML. From ideas (ideation) to deployment (release) and back again, we will share these approaches in UML Operator. We will use TOGAF as our Architecture Framework and UML as our primary modeling language.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Sparx Systems, nor am I paid for any recommendations I make regarding Sparx EA. However, as an Architect and Engineer doing CAD and CASE for 30+ years, Sparx EA is my platform of choice. I consider this tool to be the "Jack of all trades" and I use many other tools which will be touched on our our UML Operator Channel(s).

Other News

BPMN and Scenarios

System Engineering in Action! Model How Your Business Processes Really Work!

We are starting a series on BPMN (Business Process Modeling Language). This will be a multi-part series with its own playlist. However, after we introduce BPMN in Part 1, we will do a video on BPMN and "Scenarios". We have done many videos on Scenarios, but mostly focused on Use Cases. In this session we will take a BPMN Diagram and use Sparx EA capabilities to do Scenarios. Then we will auto-generate Activity and Sequence Diagrams. Be sure to Subscribe to UML Operator, Follow, and turn on Notifications to see when such content is published.

Software Architect Series COMING SOON!

We are at a point where we can advance into various fields in Systems and Software delivery, starting with Software Architect and Engineer. We were going to start with Requirements Engineer, but upon a few requests, we moved this subject matter up in our schedule. We needed to get a few prerequisites out in production first, but i believe we are ready. We know there will be lots of questions and other requests, so we will take those as the come. LOOKING FOWARD

We Owe You!

In the UMLO Channel, we still owe a Subscriber more on "Simultaneous Editing Across RAS". In Q4 '24 we produced many videos on Reusable Asset Service (RAS) which covered many other requests. Search "RAS" in YouTube UML Operator Channel to see results. However, we have some "Project Implementations" demonstrations which will expose more/other capabilities, processes, and flows.

We also owe a subscriber on how Class and Component Interface are interacted & Implemented. And another Subscriber is interested in how to produce component diagram to model microservice architecture that uses a message bus (like ActiveMQ) for communication to other components. While I use ActiveMQ, I will most likely demonstrate using Kafka.

Collaboration?

On top of everything in 2023, we also started our Blog titled... you guess it... UML Operator. I always say, "Forums are we need to talk about something, Blogs are I need to talk about something, Wikis are we need to know something, and Video Channels are we need to share something". So I created a Blog 😃.

In 2024 we will launch our Discord for UMLO to collaborate on various forms of Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) and Model-Driven-Anything. We will also launch our UMLO Patreon where various levels of membership can access my Models, Content, XML, and more. Subscription levels will also offer discounts on Online Courses and Merchandise (launching soon). While we will try to offer as much content for "free", we need to recoup some of our costs 😔.

The Journey

2023 was very exciting! While I retired the Q1 '23 after 23 years with a major Telecom Company, a multinational conglomerate holding company based in the United States, where I worked in many areas such as eCommerce, Cloud, Big Data, Data Science, and Machine Learning, I spent the rest of 2023 working for other partners to help their companies advance in CASE and UML. On the side, I started UML Operator under TOT Consulting LLC. I did this to pass my knowledge forward and continue learning and collaborating in these fields I love so much.

Sup?

The most watched videos in UMLO were around Data Modeling, Since "Data" and "intelligence" is my passion, and many asked about Data Modeling and Simulations. We produced a 3 part series linked below...

Model-Driven Data Design

We will build a Data Model in Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA). We start to do this at the beginning of any project, especially when engineering scope and requirements. We will step through creating a Data Base (tables) from scratch and then actually building the SQL that can be executed in the SQL Studio of choice.

Model-Driven Data Part 2

In this session we will pick up from our Part 1 Data Design session and add intelligence to, manage, and report on our Data Model. We are just touching on the subject of Data Modeling and show how simple it is for anyone to do this for creating SQL Tables in any SQL Data Technology, in Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA). We will see real-time collaboration in action, as well as the benefits of team modeling to speed up the delivery lifecycle.

Model-Driven Data Part 3

From scratch to production, learn how to do data design, deploy, and test. In this session we pickup from where we left off on Model-Part 2 Data Design. Here we will simulate a project delivery, starting with Data (Information and Intelligence). We will work through simple requirements (nouns & verbs) as we form our data design and deployment.

The Biggest Problem

One of the biggest problems I see in companies struggling with developing their business, systems, and software, is that they cannot turn their slides, drawings, and other graphical representations into successful and rapid implementations. This is probably why the industry is filled with tool-makers selling their wares. IT IS NOT THE PICTURES!! IT IS THE DATA and INTELLIGENCE!!! Here we will be primarily using Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA), but will also use other modeling tools to show the differences and help you make the right choices. Checkout "Learn CASE and UML".

Everything UML & CASE

As we progress, I will show you how to do just about anything using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Computer Aided Software/Systems Engineering. Many people are scared off by the thought that these things are too technical or like learning a new language, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Sure, you can get as deep as you want, but really it's just 'boxes and lines'. Sparx EA just happens to put a SQL database under those things. In this video, we learn how to use Modeling to "tell our stories", "layout our content", and more.

Getting started with Sparx or Modeling in general?

If you are just starting with Sparx EA, I have a playlist for you simply called "Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA) Getting Started". The Sparx EA Getting Started Series will help you get, install, and understand the User Interface. We will step through launching the first time, basic tooling and features, and drawing our first diagram. You can start with "Recap" which is in most of my videos, bookmark, and return as needed. The most difficult part of learning any platform or application is learning the tools, features, and what things do. The learning curve can be long, but if you focus on the basics, the other capabilities quickly follow. The first thing is whether you understand modeling and UML. For this, check out the "Sparx Basics" Playlist.

UMLO Playlists

I tend to tuck videos under various "Playlists". Sometimes i may put "Series" in their own Playlist depending on the size and scope of the Subject. I try not to duplicate links from videos or series across multiple Playlists, but sometimes it is necessary. Each Playlist references the Episodes (e.g., e1, e2...e30+). Each video has Chapters, except for short clips or Shorts. Hopefully our videos go a pace that helps you learn and comprehend the subject. Some play our videos at faster Playback speeds which is what I tend to do as well. Below are some examples of those Series and Playlists. Also note that we have a video Catalog found from the navigation to UMLO Learning Channel. Here, you get access to our video library with links. Some videos are long, so we try to give you a link to each recap, wrap up, and outro. Happy Modeling!!! 🤠

Series 2 - Sparx Basics

Learn the Basics! Here we have a long list of content which gets you started with your Sparx EA journey. Modeling should be fun and easy, so should learning or re-learning applications used for delivering yours and your team's visions.

Series 3 - Systems Architecture Delivery

This playlist deals with technology agnostic approaches in delivering business, technologies, and other architecture. We start with Sparx EA, but later demonstrate Deliveery with other CASE and UML tools.

Series 4 - Sparx Advanced Topics

Here we will discuss advanced topic relevant to UML, CASE, and Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA). From Sparx Cloud Deployment to Reusable Asset Service and other advanced subjects.

Starting out in Sparx Reporting? Follow this Reporting Playlist. We will start you with the "Basics" and continue to building your fist Custom Report. As we progress, we will be adding more content relevant to reporting, custom reporting, building templates, and more.

Use Cases (Playlist) are sometimes the first thing that people think of when talking about UML or Modeling. In the UML Operator Channel we talk and demonstrate extensively the subject of Requirements Development and using Use Cases.

The biggest problem with delivering Systems, Software, or anything is around collecting the necessary "requirements" (scope). This is why professionals start with Use Cases to understand their scope.

In Sparx versus other tools, we have most valuable and productive tools necessary for productive and effective delivery! However, I will attempt to take time to show other tooling (free or paid) for such delivery. Also check out our playlist on Activity Diagrams.

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