Code execution flow using Enterprise Architecture

Question

We have large C# ASP.NET application, the code base is so huge that I need some tool to visualize how the execution flow through the code. I am only having VS 2013 Professional Edition and there is not a chance of getting Ultimate edition.

Is there any way to get Code execution flow diagram using VS 2013 Professional?

Also I am trying Enterprise Architect to view the execution flow, But I don't know how to use EA.

Anyone can give me walk through about how I use EA to view execution flow of ASP.NET application?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Enterprise Architect can not (as far as I know) reverse engineer behavioral aspects using static code analysis.

But there is an "Execution Analyzer" available, which can create UML sequence diagram from running code.

See

• appropriate chapters in the help file
• and article http://blog.lieberlieber.com/2012/03/13/tutorial-nunit-and-sequence-diagram-recording-in-enterprise-architect-9-3/ for a short tutorial
• and webinar recording http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/demos/vea/webinar-visual-execution-analyzer.html for discussion of some wider context.

However, as far as I know there are no auto-magic-bullet tools that would replace missing documentation by reverse engineering and visualizing legacy code bases.

Article Agile Modeling: Single Source Information: An Agile Best Practice for Effective Documentation can give you some insights and decision points which parts you should document. But the simplest hint probably is: create documentation explaining things you don't understand, using whatever set of simple and semi-automatic and efficient tools that you have available. e.g. NDepend is one falling into this category.

This broad subject is off-topic on Stack Overflow and you can find better help on the Programmers StackExchange site, you can start with question Programmers: How do you dive into large code bases?