How to Comprehend Large and Complicated Systems

The basic problem at early analysis stage of the development life cycle is how to quickly comprehend a large and complicated system. One of the ways to comprehend such a system is to build an object model, as it was suggested by the pioneers of object modelling approach such as J.Rumbaugh1 and J.Martin2. In up-to-date terminology it means building a UML class diagram. The authors have got convinced in their everyday practice on extreme efficiency of this type of modelling, though at the same time a significant experience for this job is also required. To make this job easier, a modelling methodology must be developed. The goal of this paper is, on the one hand, to give some methodological recommendations in the conceptual modelling by means of class diagrams, and on the other hand, to discuss requirements for tools which support this type of modelling.