Question

How do you identify the potential classes in a problem domain description?

Short answer

Answer: The process of identifying potential classes in a problem domain description includes the following steps: 1. Understand the problem domain description. 2. Identify major entities. 3. Find relationships and interactions. 4. Look for potential class attributes. 5. Look for potential class operations. 6. Group related entities, attributes, and operations. 7. Create potential classes based on these findings.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the problem domain description

A problem domain description refers to the definition and explanation of the area (or domain) that the given problem falls under. It's important to have a clear understanding of the problem domain description so that you can accurately identify potential classes.

Identify major entities

Read through the problem domain description and list down the major entities (objects, concepts, or ideas) mentioned or implied in the text. They are often the main components of the problem or system being described.

Find relationships and interactions

After you've listed the major entities, look for relationships and interactions between them. This can aid in identifying potential classes, as well as understanding how classes might relate to each other.

Look for potential class attributes

Identify any attributes and properties associated with the major entities. These attributes are often used as fields within potential classes and can offer insight into the structure and purpose of those classes.

Look for potential class operations

Identify any potential operations, actions, or behaviors associated with the major entities in the description. These operations are often used as methods within classes and can give you information on what each class can do and how it might interact with other classes.

Group related entities, attributes, and operations

Group the entities, attributes, and operations that are strongly related or closely connected with one another. This will make it easier to identify potential classes and see how they interact with each other.

Create potential classes

Based on your collected list of entities, relationships, attributes, and operations, create potential classes and describe their purpose, attributes, and methods. If you're unsure about a class, ask yourself if it makes sense within the context of the problem domain and if it could be effectively implemented in a program. After completing these steps, you should now be able to identify the potential classes in a problem domain description that are crucial for solving the given problem.