When to Use Class Diagrams
Class diagrams are the backbone of nearly all OO methods, so you will find yourself using them all the time. This chapter covers the basic concepts; Chapter 6 discusses many of the advanced concepts.
The trouble with class diagrams is that they are so rich, they can be overwhelming to use. Here are a few tips.
Don't try to use all the notations available to you. Start with the simple stuff in this chapter: classes, associations, attributes, generalization, and constraints. Introduce other notations from Chapter 6 only when you need them.
Fit the perspective from which you are drawing the models to the stage of the project.
If you are in analysis, draw conceptual models.
When working with software, concentrate on specification ...
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