Booch worked at Vandenberg Air Force Base after he graduated. He started as a project engineer and later managed ground-support missions for the space shuttle and other projects. After he gained his master's degree he became an instructor at the Air Force Academy. Booch served as Chief Scientist of
Rational Software Corporation from its founding in 1981 through its acquisition by IBM in 2003, where he continued to work until March 2008. After this he became Chief Scientist, Software Engineering in IBM Research and series editor for
Benjamin Cummings. Booch has devoted his life's work to improving the art and the science of software development. In the 1980s, he wrote one of the more popular books on programming in
Ada. He is best known for developing the
Unified Modeling Language with
Ivar Jacobson and
James Rumbaugh in the 1990s.
IBM 1130 Booch got his first exposure to programming on an
IBM 1130. ... I pounded the doors at the local IBM sales office until a salesman took pity on me. After we chatted for a while, he handed me a Fortran [manual]. I'm sure he gave it to me thinking, "I'll never hear from this kid again." I returned the following week saying, "This is really cool. I've read the whole thing and have written a small program. Where can I find a computer?" The fellow, to my delight, found me programming time on an IBM 1130 on weekends and late-evening hours. That was my first programming experience, and I must thank that anonymous IBM salesman for launching my career. Thank you, IBM.
Booch method Booch developed the '
Booch method' of software development, which he presents in his 1991/94 book,
Object Oriented Analysis and Design With Applications. The method was authored by Booch when he was working for Rational Software (acquired by IBM), published in 1992 and revised in 1994. The method is composed of an
object-oriented modeling language, an iterative object-oriented development process, and a set of recommended practices. The recommended practices include adding more classes to simplify complex code. The methodology was widely used in
software engineering for
object-oriented analysis and design and benefited from ample documentation and support tools. The Booch notation is characterized by cloud shapes to represent classes and distinguishes the following diagrams: The process is organized around a macro and a micro process. •
Object Solutions: Managing the Object-Oriented Project. •
The Unified Software Development Process. With
Ivar Jacobson and
James Rumbaugh. •
The Complete UML Training Course. With James Rumbaugh and Ivar Jacobson. •
The Unified Modeling Language Reference Manual, Second Edition. With James Rumbaugh and Ivar Jacobson. •
The Unified Modeling Language User Guide, Second Edition. With James Rumbaugh and Ivar Jacobson. •
Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications. ==Awards and honors==