Prototyping model for components of a software program

• US 20030120678A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Beachman, Bruce J., Hill, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4492 Inheritance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for generating run-time images of a software program, such as an operating system, builds a run-time image from a plurality of selected software program components, each of which is a discrete packet of functionality. Each component not only specifies its properties and resources but also provides script for its own build behavior. To build the run-time image, a configuration is constructed to include instances of selected components, and the scripts of the instances are invoked such that each component instance builds itself into the run-time image. A general framework is provided for managing the components and the build process. A prototyping scheme is provided for a component to inherit its properties, resources, and script from other components. Each component may also specify dependency data in terms of component inclusion in the run-time image and the orders in which the components are built into the run-time image. A versioning scheme facilitates the tracking of various revisions and upgrades of components.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure containing description data for a first software program component, comprising:

a first data field containing data specifying properties of the software program component; and

a second data field containing data specifying required resources of the software program,

the data in the first data field including data identifying a second software program component having properties, resources, and script defining a build behavior to be inherited by the first software program component.

2. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the data structure further includes a third data field containing data representing script defining a build behavior of the first software program component.

3. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the data in the first field identifying the second software program component is a globally unique identification of the second software program component.

4. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the data structure further includes a third data field containing data specifying dependency information with respect to other software program components.

5. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for managing software program components used for building run-time images, the steps comprising:

identifying, from inheritance information provided in description data of a first software program component, an inheritance chain containing a plurality of software program components having respective properties, resources, and build behavior script blocks;

generating an instance of the first software program component, the instance having properties and resources obtained by collapsing properties and resources of the software program components in the inheritance chain, and having build behavior script obtained from coalescing build behavior script blocks of the software program components in the inheritance chain.

6. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the step of coalescing includes linking the build behavior script blocks of the software program components in the inheritance chain.

7. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the inheritance information of the first software program component includes an identification of a second software program component serving as prototype of the first software program component.

8. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the software program components are operating system components.