Topological multi-tier business application composer

• US 20030041311A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: England, Laurence E., Glaser, Howard J., Poole, Rebecca L.
• Application Number:
  US09/939,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A computer-implemented Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for use in constructing a multi-tier business application for a multiple tier computer network. The IDE is used to create and maintain the multi-tier business application quickly and easily on the multiple tier computer network. The IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer and associated Meta-model, wherein the Composer allows the developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application and the graphical representation of the multi-tier business application is then persistently stored in the Meta-model.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system of developing multi-tier business applications, comprising:

an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), executed by a computer, for creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, the Composer includes a window and a palette, and the palette contains graphical constructs representing tiers and components of the tiers that are used to design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy a graphical presentation of the multi-tier business application in the window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the icons are dragged from the palette onto the window, and thereafter connected together, in a topological structure for the multi-tier business application.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the components are selected from a group comprising workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the Composer is used to perform one or more actions selected from a group comprising:

creating the tiers involved in the multi-tier business application;

specifying the components of each of the tiers; and

specifying properties that identify each of the tiers and the components of the tiers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the IDE further comprises a Meta-model that captures information entered via the Composer and that persistently stores the information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the captured information is selected from a group comprising information about tiers, workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the Meta-model is accessible by other tools.

9. A computer-implemented method for developing multi-tier business applications, comprising:

creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network using an Integrated Development Environment (DE) executed by a computer, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, the Composer includes a window and a palette, and the palette contains graphical constructs representing tiers and components of the tiers that are used to design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy a graphical presentation of the multi-tier business application in the window.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the icons are dragged from the palette onto the window, and thereafter connected together, in a topological structure for the multi-tier business application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the components are selected from a group comprising workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the Composer is used to perform one or more actions selected from a group comprising:

creating the tiers involved in the multi-tier business application;

specifying the components of each of the tiers; and

specifying properties that identify each of the tiers and the components of the tiers.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the IDE further comprises a Meta-model that captures information entered via the Composer and that persistently stores the information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the captured information is selected from a group comprising information about tiers, workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the Meta-model is accessible by other tools.

17. An article of manufacture embodying logic for developing multi-tier business applications, the logic comprising:

creating and maintaining a multi-tier business application on a multiple tier computer network using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) executed by a computer, wherein the IDE includes a Topological Multi-Tier Business Application Composer that is used by a developer to graphically design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy the multi-tier business application, the Composer includes a window and a palette, and the palette contains graphical constructs representing tiers and components of the tiers that are used to design, develop, maintain, build, test, debug, and deploy a graphical presentation of the multi-tier business application in the window.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the icons are dragged from the palette onto the window, and thereafter connected together, in a topological structure for the multi-tier business application.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the components are selected from a group comprising workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the Composer is used to perform one or more actions selected from a group comprising:

creating the tiers involved in the multi-tier business application;

specifying the components of each of the tiers; and

specifying properties that identify each of the tiers and the components of the tiers.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the IDE further comprises a Meta-model that captures information entered via the Composer and that persistently stores the information.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the captured information is selected from a group comprising information about tiers, workstations, servers, application files, connections, data paths, user-defined processes, and other user-defined elements.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the Meta-model is updated and kept in synchronization with any updates made to the multi-tier business application via the Composer.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the Meta-model is accessible by other tools.