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Object Oriented Analysis, (Second Edition) by Peter Coad & Edward Yourdon Recommended

ISBN: ??       Publisher: Yourdon Press       Pages: Hard Cover 200 pages       Price: £?

Categories:   object oriented

Reviewed by Ian Horwill in Overload OL4 (Feb 1994)

The subject and its parts are presented in "What-Why-How" format. The book introduces the basic ideas of an object-oriented approach and discusses the shortcomings of earlier analysis methods before embarking on the body of the text, which details each of the stages of Object Oriented Analysis. Each stage is covered by explaining what it is, why it is there and how you do it - notation and strategy.

Coad and Yourdon have obviously had a lot to do with the development of OOA, and are not short of experience in applying it to real-world systems - and this shows. Three example systems are developed along with the discussion: a trivial sensor monitor, a vehicle registration system and a real-time airlift system. Although the examples are small, they are realistic. This, along with the clarity of presentation, makes the book a breeze to read.

The philosophical justification for OOA is covered too. OOA is said to be a better method of analysis because it embodies the three "methods of organisation which pervade all human thought". These are quoted from the Encyclopaedia Britannica and are (a) the perceiving of the universe as objects and their attributes, (b) the distinction between whole objects and their parts, and (c) the formation of classes of objects. By sticking as far as possible to objects and concepts already present in the "problem domain", an object-oriented representation (at the analysis, design or programming stage) is far easier to understand and communicate about than one constructed on some other set of rules.

The book also points out that OOA flows smoothly into OOD, with no "magical transition" between the end of the analysis and the start of the design that is a feature of certain other methods.

A thoroughly good read!

Yourdon
Case Studies in Object Orientated Analysis and Design by Carl Argila & Edward Yourdon [Highly Recommended]  (Reviewed May 1998)
Death March Projects by Edward Yourdon [Recommended]  (Reviewed Jan 1999)
Object-Oriented Analysis (Second Edition) by Peter Coad & Edward Yourdon [Not Recommended]  (Reviewed May 1993)
Object-Oriented Design by Peter Coad & Edward Yourdon [Not Recommended]  (Reviewed May 1993)
Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer by Edward Yourdon [Recommended]  (Reviewed Jul 1996)
Time Bomb 2000 by Edward Yourdon & Jennifer Yourdon [Recommended]  (Reviewed May 1998)