Enterprise Architect IDE

[Vangelis]

Not sure if this has been suggested before but...

This suggestion  comes about because I like to use EA not just as a modelling tool but as the basis for documentation, modelling and coding. So, I design in the tool but I also keep the code in the tool using the "Initial Code" in the behavior "tab" of an operation. I don't do reverse engineering. Why? Because I think it's the lazy (wo)man's development methodology. The only reason it would be required is to grab any code changes that have come about due to debugging (which shouldn't be necessary if this tool could debug). Hence my following suggestions to enhance this wonderful tool:

1. Better code editor capabilities (possibly integration with external editors)

2. Complete syntax recognition including help/suggestions/code completion for all the languages as per other IDE's.

3. Ability to debug code from the EA tool! Including setting breakpoints, viewing variables/classes, watches, etc.

If these suggestions were implemented, I would never need to use another IDE again. Forcing myself to use the EA tool exclusively gets me thinking about development from an architectural/design point of view ONLY and never having the possibility of dropping into a "procedural" or "hacking" frame of mind. It is more difficult initially but when I force myself to think this way, it becomes easier and better with docs/design/code always in sync and usually better design solutions.

Anyone agree/disagree? Reasons why?

Regards,

Vangelis

[RoyC]

What version of EA do you have? I ask this question only to direct you to the pathways for locating the Help on these topics.

EA has had the capabilities you require for quite a long time. The most recent releases (8.0 and 9.0) have the greatest degree of development and exposure of the facilities as separate items, and there are sets of Learning Center topics that help you use the Code Editors and the Debugging and Visual Execution Analysis features. These topics refer you to the specific debug/VEA model structures and code provided in the EAExample model included in the EA installer.

[Vangelis]

Hi Roy,

Thanks for your response. I have just bought EA 9 Professional edition. I have to admit that I find the help system difficult to navigate so if EA does do all this functionality I would be very grateful if you could point me in the right direction to the documentation and probably more importantly to any tutorials that focus on this functionality.

It should be noted that my development environment consists of a Linux VM running EA in WINE and developing in the PHP language.

Regards,

Vangelis

[RoyC]

I'd suggest that you start with the Learning Center (press Alt+F1 in EA) and click on the drop-down arrow to the right of the Learning Center toolbar. Have a browse through the topics under Software Engineering, Build and Debug, and Execution Analysis.

The Learning Center topics have links to relevant Help topics, so have a look at those too. The Help viewer in that situation only shows you the specific Help topic, so also open the EA Help (the question mark in the blue circle in various toolbars and windows) and expand the main sections for Software Engineering > Code, Build & Debug (especially Code Editors) and Visual Execution Analyzer.

Use the Index to search for things in the Help, or use the Search tab (which works best if you look for single words).

People on the forum are very helpful, so if you have trouble with specific points, post a question.