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PlantUML – Making Complicated Diagrams Simpler
A colleague at work recently told me that I should check out PlantUML. His advice is usually good, and this is no exception.
PlantUML uses a relatively simple text language to describe the desired diagram, then makes generation of the image as simple as processing the UML file. It’s easy to try online at http://plantuml.com/ where there is a text editor with real time image updates as you add more content.
Sequence Diagrams
Sequence diagrams are probably the simplest to build, and are absurdly fast to create. Here’s a simple example of a TCP exchange:
To create this, I used the following PlantUML:
@startuml
title : TCP Exchange
HostA -> HostB : SYN
HostB -> HostA : SYN+ACK
HostA -> HostB : ACK
HostA -> HostB : Data
HostB -> HostA : ACK
HostB -> HostA : FIN
HostA -> HostB : ACK
HostA -> HostB : FIN
HostB -> HostA : ACK
@enduml
You’re not limited to two endpoints, of course:
Use Case Diagrams
Here’s a simple use case with Fred and Joe again:
The PlantUML to generate this was:
@startuml
title : Result of Gossip
Fred --> (HR) : complaint
(Legal) -> (HR) : advice
(HR) -> Continue readingThe Silo of Focus
How often, in our careers, are we told to focus on one thing at a time? I would guess I see some message about this, such as the image to the left in this post, at least once a week, if not once a day.
In general, I agree with the sentiment. If you really want to get something done, do it, rather than doing a lot of things at once. The reason for this, I think, is because multitasked work tends to result in half-work, which is something to be avoided at all costs.
Avoid half-work more than anything. Do not imitate those people who sit long at their desks but let their minds wander. It is better to shorten the time and use it intensely, to increase its value, which is all that counts. Do something, or do nothing at all. Do ardently whatever you decide to do; do it with your might; and let the whole of your activity be a series of vigorous fresh starts. Half-work, which is half-rest, is good neither for rest nor for work. via Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life
But there is another side to focus we need to be wary of as Continue reading
VMware NSX 6.2: Enterprise Automation, Security and Application Continuity
VMworld 2015 in San Francisco marks the two-year anniversary of the launch of VMware 
NSX. Since we originally launched, we have taken the promise of NSX and turned it into a platform that customers around the world are using to transform the operations of their data center networks and security infrastructure – in fact, more than 700 customers have chosen NSX. We also have more than 100 production deployments, and more than 65 customers have invested more than $1M of their IT budgets in NSX. We’ve trained more than 3,500 people on NSX, and we have more than 20 interoperable partner solutions generally available and shipping today.
Perhaps what’s most exciting is that at this year’s show, we will have more than two dozen NSX customers represented in various forums throughout the event. Organizations such as Baystate Health, City of Avondale, ClearDATA, Columbia Sportswear, DirecTV, FireHost, George Washington University, Heartland Payment Systems, IBM, IlliniCloud, NovaMedia, Rent-A-Center, Telstra, Tribune Media, United Health Group, University of New Mexico…the list goes on.
And as the capstone, we get to debut VMware NSX 6.2 at the show. So let’s take a deeper look at what we’ve learned from our customers and what’s new Continue reading
VMware Claims 100 Production Deployments for NSX
The 'Fight of the Century' ran on NSX, it turns out.