Object-Oriented Systems

Development:
Development
Using the Unified Modeling
Language

Chapter 10:
Designing Classes

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 Goals

• Designing classes.
• Designing protocols and class
visibility.
• Defining attributes.
• Designing methods.

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 Object-Oriented Design
Philosophy
• The first step in building an
application should be to design a set
of classes, each of which has a
specific expertise and all of which
can work together in useful ways.

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 Designing Class: the Process
1. Apply design axioms to design classes, their
attributes, methods, associations, structures, and
protocols.
1.1. Refine and complete the static UML class diagram (object
model) by adding details to that diagram.
1.1.1. Refine attributes.
1.1.2. Design methods and the protocols by utilizing a
UML activity diagram to represent the method's
algorithm..
1.1.3. Refine the associations between classes (if
required).
1.1.4. Refine the class hierarchy and design with
inheritance (if required).
1.2. Iterate and refine again.

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 Class Visibility
• In designing methods or attributes
for classes, you are confronted
with two issues.
– One is the protocol, or interface to
the class operations and its
visibility;
– and how it should be implemented.

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 Class Visibility (Con’t)
• Public protocols Private (internal) Protocol

define the
functionality and Protected Protocol

external messages of
Messages

Public Protocol

an object, while
private protocols
define the
implementation of an
object.
Sub class

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 Private Protocol (Visibility)
• A set of methods that are used
only internally.
• Object messages to itself.
• Define the implementation of the
object (Internal).
• Issues are: deciding
what should be private.
– What attributes
– What methods
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 Protected Protocol (Visibility)
• In a protected protocol, subclasses
can use the method in addition to
the class itself.
• In private protocols, only the class
itself can use the method.

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 Public Protocol (Visibility)
• Defines the functionality of the object
• Decide what should be public
(External).

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 Guidelines for Designing
Protocols
• Good design allows for
polymorphism.
• Not all protocols should be public,
again apply design axioms and
corollaries.

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 Guidelines for Designing
Protocols (Con’t)
• The following key questions must
be answered:
– What are the class interfaces and
protocols?
– What public (external) protocol will
be used or what external messages
must the system understand?

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 Questions (Con’t)
– What private or protected (internal)
protocol will be used or what
internal messages or messages from
a subclass must the system
understand?

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 Attribute Types
• The three basic types of attributes
are:
– 1. Single-value attributes.
– 2. Multiplicity or multivalue
attributes.
– 3. Reference to another object, or
instance connection.

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 Designing Methods and Protocols
• A class can provide several types
of methods:
– Constructor. Method that creates
instances (objects) of the class.
– Destructor. The method that
destroys instances.
– Conversion method. The method that
converts a value from one unit of
measure to another.
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 Designing Methods and
Protocols (Con’t)
– Copy method. The method that
copies the contents of one instance
to another instance.
– Attribute set. The method that sets
the values of one or more attributes.
– Attribute get. The method that
returns the values of one or more
attributes.

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 Designing Methods and
Protocols (Con’t)
– I/O methods. The methods that
provide or receive data to or from a
device.
– Domain specific. The method
specific to the application.

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 Five Rules For Identifying Bad
Design
• I. If it looks messy then it's
probably a bad design.

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 Five Rules For Identifying Bad
Design (Con’t)
• II. If it is too complex then it's
probably a bad design.

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 Five Rules For Identifying Bad
Design (Con’t)
• III. If it is too big then it's
probably a bad design.

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 Five Rules For Identifying Bad
Design (Con’t)
• IV. If people don't like it then it's
probably a bad design.

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 Five Rules For Identifying Bad
Design (Con’t)
• V. If it doesn't work then it's
probably a bad design.

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 Avoiding Design Pitfalls
• Keep a careful eye on the class
design and make sure that an
object's role remains well defined.
• If an object loses focus, you need
to modify the design.
• Apply Corollary 2
(single purpose).

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 Avoiding Design Pitfalls (Con’t)
• Move some functions into new
classes that the object would use.
• Apply Corollary 1 (uncoupled
design with less information
content).
• Break up the class into two or
more classes.
• Apply Corollary 3 (large number
of simple classes).
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 Summary
• This chapter concentrated on the
first step of the object-oriented
design process, which consists of
applying the design axioms and
corollaries to design classes, their
attributes, methods,
associations, structures,
and protocols; then,
iterating and refining.
Object-Oriented Systems Development Bahrami ? Irwin/ McGraw-Hill
 Summary (Con’t)
• Object-oriented design is an
iterative process.
• Designing is as much about
discovery as construction.
• Do not be afraid to change a class
design, based on experience
gained, and do not be afraid to
change it a second, third, or fourth
time.
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