The Analysis Patterns Group

Next Meeting: See Agenda Below
    Location: Space Untitled
        Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
   Questions? email Ari or Joshua

The AP Group, the latest group to form within the DPSG, is devoted to the study of analysis patterns from Martin Fowler's book, Analysis Patterns: Reusable Object Models.

Like all groups within the DPSG, this group meets weekly to study and master analysis patterns.

When the group finishes studying Martin's book, the cycle will repeat so that others in the community may have a chance to study this important book.

This study group could be more appropriately entitled, "Transitioning from Developer to Architect". But for now, the book itself will be the focal point of the study. Analysis Patterns proposes to give you 'instant knowledge' of expert modeling techniques, by providing templates for building actual models. Analysis Patterns, therefore, should help make the transition much smoother and faster than by plodding through the normal process.

We will work our way through the book, extracting a clear and thorough understanding of the content. Along the way, we'll hash out examples and convert Fowler's models to UML (he actually requested that this be done!). By reinterpreting his models via the "standard" notation, some of the concepts he intended to convey may become clearer. We will provide Martin with continual feedback, and may even have him attend one of our meetings (and/or a post-meeting get-together at a local bar)!

We will also try to bring other issues of systems architecture into the discussions, such as transactioning, tiering, performance, costing, and all the other aspects of architecture that are outside of the scope of OO analysis. Additionally, a great deal of time will be spent finding the dividing line between analysis and design, trying to see where the architect's role ends and the developer's begins.

In reality, though, the full scope of the group is totally open to discussion. Everyone's input is requested, so that the study group will be relevant to all, and we will all stay motivated. In fact, at the second meeting we will decide on an actual agenda to follow. Hence, the 'agenda' below is only preliminary. Once we have a real agenda, we'll stick to it as much as possible, so as not to go off on tangents and lose focus. We will, however, modify it as we go, so please keep referring back to this page for the up-to-date schedule.