This book explains modern trend in software development focused to object-oriented data modeling. It is very important matter among other tools and techniques required for modern computer programming, software analysis, development and maintenance. Data modeling is based on certain theoretical background of computer science like lambda calculus and object-oriented paradigm.
Good skill in data modeling with power to practically create, test and analyze data in computer is essential for prototyping, information systems analysis verification, business and workflow process design, database development and also special information systems like GIS, MIS or knowledge systems.
Data modeling is not exactly the same with programming. Reader of this book does not need to be a programmer. Book text consists of practical examples, UML diagrams and only in necessary cases has simple programming language, which is little subset of the Smalltalk programming language. This subset is analogous to database query languages or OCL known in UML standard.
The matter of this book is closely related to database technology. Majority of contemporary database systems is based on the relational data model either in its pure old form or in so-called object-relational variant, where is relational data model amended by some OOP features. Other case is pure “non-relational” object-oriented databases, but this technology unfortunately does not belong to the mainstream. There is implementation “incompatibility” between object-oriented approach and both species of relational databases. This is why this book deals with the transformation of data models in analysis phase to platform dependent implementation models.
Information from this book might be applicable in many current object-oriented programming languages. Book will have together with its text a CDROM with non-commercial license of used development environment VisualWorks with modeling environment and all used examples.