Excel Software today announced QuickCRC 1.2 for object-oriented software modeling on Macintosh or Windows computers. Version 1.2 increases the model capacity to support thousands of object classes, hundreds of diagrams and long names for classes, attributes and operations. QuickCRC 1.2 supports the new Java, C++ and Delphi reengineering features available in WinTranslator 2.0.
CRC cards are very cost effective for designing small software projects and as a front-end to larger projects. Large projects typically use a comprehensive design method and notation such as the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Although UML is a very expressive and rigorous notation, methodologists often advocate using simple CRC cards to quickly collect the information during team working sessions. QuickCRC automates the CRC card approach to identifying classes, responsibilities and collaborations between objects. It provides a data link to MacA&D and WinA&D for UML modeling.
QuickCRC uses a diagram workspace for creating card and scenario objects. A card represents the properties of a class including its name, description, superclasses, subclasses, attributes, responsibilities and object collaborations. A scenario represents a design mechanism defined as a series of steps involving communicating objects. Scenarios can reference cards and other scenarios. As information is entered or changed for a card or scenario object, it is instantly synchronized throughout the model. Separate diagrams partition large models into subject areas. The contents view allows a designer to navigate between diagrams. The generated inheritance graph concisely illustrates the class inheritance structure.
A text representation can be generated from information in a CRC model. This information can be used as a coding specification, transferred to other applications or used to automatically generate a new model. Design information can be exported to the MacA&D or WinA&D modeling tools for detailed design and code generation. QuickCRC used in conjunction with WinTranslator generates CRC cards from code written in C++, Delphi (Object-Pascal) or Java. This powerful combination can save hundreds of development hours when learning new code, reusing existing code and maintaining software projects.
QuickCRC for Macintosh is compatible with MacOS 7.x or 8.x. QuickCRC for Windows runs on Windows 95, 98 or NT. Models are binary compatible between platforms.
A single user license for QuickCRC is priced at US$295 and volume pricing is available directly from Excel Software. The company offers a trial version at their web site. You can also find more information on the product.