Business Case for Enterprise Architect

[MichaelRuschena]

Hi folks...

We're looking to get EA adopted as a CASE tool for our team. We've been told to put together a business case for the app. Can anyone suggest the features the EA brings?

The main competion is Visio and Rational Rose. We do Microsoft-base web development (i.e. using MS SQL, ASP, normal web-type bits, COM, and so on)

Current ideas are:

• productivity (we'll do some metrics)
• good modelling ability (a little vague... specific measures, anyone?)
• a single repository for documentation
• UML support
• Documentation... although I feel a little week on this
• testing support
• VB.net code generation (which we don't actually use yet  :-/)

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Michael

[jaimeglz]

Hi Michael,

I have used Visio 2000 extensively, but I have not tried the newer 2002 Professional (because i could not find an evaluation CD readily available for Mexico). Having this in mind, here are my comparisons between Vision 2000 and EA, which I prepared for a customer last June:

Time to open a project (on a 500 Mhz Celeron, 128 MByte of RAM, Compaq Presario):
  Visio: 77 seconds
  EA: 3 seconds

Eport format:
  Visio: MS Repository
  EA: XMI

Generate Java, C++, VB skeletons for classes:
  Visio: yes  (but according to http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio/ this is not available anymore on 2002 Proffessional)
  EA: yes

Generate Java, C++, VB skeletons for other UML objects:
  Visio: no
  EA: yes

Generate SQL:
  Visio: not in UML mode (but you could achieve it in Visio 2000 by tweaking Java skeleton generation capabilities)
  EA: yes

List price, single license:

Visio 2002 Prof. (in http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio/ , as of last June): US $499.

EA: US$149.00

Take into account that Visio 2002 Prof is a tool that specializes as a general drawing sofware product. It does not compete at all with EA's upper/lower CASE tool capabilities. Likewise, EA cannot compete with Visio as a drawing tool.

The MS product that could could be considered as an upper/lower CASE tool is the US$2,499 MS Visual Studio Enterprise Architect, wich integrates Visio's capabilites and VB generation.

Jaime Gonzalez

[PhilBoyd]

Eport format:
 Visio: MS Repository
 EA: XMI
There is an add-on sample component that will allow Visio 2002 to export to XMI.  You just can't import - AFAIK.

[CJ]

G'day folks,

In regards to Visio:  We purchased Visio 2000 Enterprise and we were disappointed to see the Enterprise version dropped with the Visio 2002 line.  If you want to forward-engineer code, Visio 2002 isn't for you.  You'll have to get Visual Studio
Enterprise Architect if you want a Microsoft product to forward-engineer.

In regards to EA, a few of the large number of things we love:
- Automation Interface: create customized reports, code generators, etc. etc.;
- Support:  Sparx Systems offers excellent support ... the turnaround to implement feature requests and bug fixes is oh so impressive; a great forum with well appreciated participation by the folks at Sparx;
- TRACEABILITY!!!!
- and some touchy-feely stuff:  fun to use and creates "pretty" drawings!

[AdamHearn]

As many others... we started off with Visio (Enterprise Architect Edition). Visio's sequence diagrams are an absolute nightmare to construct. It's more a drawing tool than a software modelling tool and this is where it's problems are. EA on the other hand is a breeze

If you're just going to do some static models (use cases, class diagrams) then assuming you've already got Visio then it is probably the best option. However, if you have to buy either then EA wins hands down.

I evaluated around 6 tools before deciding EA was the one for us. I've just upgraded to the Corporate Edition as it supports a central repositry.

[Peter_Cheung]

I have used Visio in the passed.  I don't think it is even close to what EA offers from a system development stand point.  EA is more close to Rational Rose/MS Visual Modeller.

Peter Cheung

[Steve_Straley]

Hi,

I haven't seen the new version of Visio and certainly, it is used at GE (since it is part of the enterprise license they have).   I'm curious, as I have when interviewing at GE, how a drawing tool can be compared to a UML modeling tool.  I know corporate types don't see the differences but here's my point....   At GE they have Visio for free and then they went out at purchased huge licenses for Rose.   If Visio is to be compared to EA (which I don't see how), it would stand to reason that the same comparison should be made to Rose.  Which, in the case of GE, they don't do that for some reason!  Odd.   Point being, if Rose is something different, then EA is "something different" than Visio.

Just stating what I've noticed in the Logical, Structured, Sane Corporate World.... (yes, being tongue and cheeky there <LOL>).

Steve

[Jason Kaczor]

- productivity (we'll do some metrics)

Visio?  2002 "enterprise architect"?

Fat chance.  I came close to tracking down the individuals responsible in Redmond and doing "very bad things" to them after doing a large scale design in Visio 2002 EA...

Visio 2002 EA = no productivity.

However, I would say Sparx EA is at par with, and in my opinion, exceeds Rose in terms of productivity, especially in a team environment.  However, my caveat is the last version of Rose I used was 98EE.

- good modelling ability (a little vague... specific measures, anyone?)

Again, compared to my last experience with Rose, Sparx EA kicks it's pants outta the water.

Visio 2002?  Not a modeller, it's a diagrammer.  Try sharing artifacts, growing a design, it's simply un-bearable.

- a single repository for documentation

I love Sparxs' combined requirements, UML, task assignment, tracking, support features, again to get those from the "flowery" company, you'd have to buy a bunch of their other products.

- UML support

Sparx EA is at the top of my list again.

- VB.net code generation (which we don't actually use yet  )

Personally, IMO - forward code generation of any tool is ok, it's reverse engineering that I use more often, again Sparx EA comes out on top in my experience.

Lastly, don't forget price.  You can outfit a good sized team with Sparx EA on everyones' desk for the cost 1 Rose license.

Sure, you may get Visio 2002 EA "free" w/Visual Studio.NET EA, but, ultimately you will find out that if you bill for your time and effort, it ain't exactly "free"...

[MichaelRuschena]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I did come up with a productivity test to compare the tools as a simple UML drawing tool. I nominated 6 diagrams from a UML workbook, and reproduced them in both Visio and EA, timing how long each diagram took. (I don't have access to Rose, so I can't run this through the same test yet... I'm planning to, though.) I took some efforts to get the diagrams matching the appearance of the ones in the book, but did allow variations native to the applications.

Diagram	# Elements	E.A Time	Visio Time	EA Efficiency
Use Case Model	31	8	27	70%
Domain Model	50	9	17	47%
Class Model	44	23	33	30%
Robustness Diagram	27	8	Not available	N/A
Sequence Diagram	20	10	22	55%
				51%

Visio couldn't do Robustness diagrams in the UML portion. (I think it was available in a different diagram type, but then the benefits of Visio's UML connections, such as they are, would be lost.) Visio also lost marks in the Sequence diagram, since it was unable to efficiently add comments by the diagram (The comment icon was stuck in a default size, and I couldn't figure out how to effectively resize it.)

For real results, further testing would be needed. Ideally, we would get at least 5 users of a number of skill levels, and run them through the same tests. (I count myself as a proficient user of both applications.)

On the basis of these tests, I can comfortably claim EA as 50% more efficient than Visio as a UML drawing tool (plus being easier to use). This translates into significant saving really quickly.

There are still the benefits to be gained from

• not having to put stuff into Word.
  
• task lists
• code generation (although we don't get much of a chance to use this... silly ASP shops.

I'd still like to know if anyone's worked with Rational products... Is there any differentiation between Rational and EA other than the price? (And yes, that price differential is a big different.)
_
Michael Ruschena

[AdamHearn]

The last version of Rose I used was 98E. It's not that fair to draw comparisons but I did evaluate quite a few tools when looking for a UML modelling tool (moved company). I spent a week with the very expensive XDA product (Rose integrated into VS.NET). Hmm, integration was good - product was STILL almost the Rose I left behind a couple of years ago

EA came out on top and was a fairly easy company persuation (they assumed Visio would do the job as a manager had read it did UML modelling...) due to its VERY reasonable cost.

[Jumbik]

Hi Michael,

My meaning:

I know VISIO quite well as "a project boss" in SW projects - it is not truly CASE tool, it is very good drawing tool.

EA is much better for team developing. EA is much more near to SW developers then VISIO (it is technical CASE, not only drawing CASE).

VISIO is not so opened, getting model infos from VISIO is much more difficult, EA is opened for reading model data simply (XMI and Automation Interface).  

Last but not least - the communication with users of EA and of VISIO, the explications etc., it is incomparable...  

Jumbik.