Expectations of the PlantUML UDL

[vidgeus]

This UDL should highlight, as accurate as possible within the UDL language definition capabilities, PlantUML language constructs like types, keywords, etc...

Q: How to get PlantUML language keywords and other constructs list?
A: java -jar "plantuml-cmd.jar" -language

Requirements:

• Each language construct should have its own style
• The font size of all styles should ideally be the same

Challenge:

• Different diagram types (activity, sequence, ....) have the same file extension, so all styles will be applied to all diagrams.
• Workaround: create a UDL for each diagram type, essentially from Notepad++ point of view have PlantUML-Activity, PlantUML-Sequence, PlantUML- languages.
  • Limitations of workaround:
    • with multiple languages for same file extension the user would need to ensure it is using the right one
    • more code to maintain since there are core PlantUML language constructs applicable to all diagram types
• Decision: have a single UDL for all PlantUML diagram types.