Comparing Sequence and Collaboration Diagrams

Different developers have different preferences when it comes to choosing the form of interaction diagram to use. I usually prefer the sequence diagram because I like the emphasis it puts on sequence; it is easy to see the order in which things occur. Others prefer the collaboration diagram because they can use the layout to indicate how objects are statically connected.

One of the principal features of either form of an interaction diagram is its simplicity. You can easily see the messages by looking at the diagram. However, if you try to represent something other than a single sequential process without much conditional or looping behavior, the technique begins to break down.

One of the problems ...

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