Versioning model for software program development

• US 20030120688A1
• 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 7,428,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

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 for containing version information of a software item, comprising:

a first data field containing data representing a version-independent identifier that is unchanged by revisions and upgrades performed on the software item;

a second data field containing data representing a version-specific identifier that is unchanged by revisions but changed by upgrades performed on the software item; and

a third data field containing data representing a revision number that is increased by each revision performed on the software item.

2. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the version-independent identifier and version-specific identifier are globally unique identifiers.

3. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the revision number has a value indicating that the software item is an end-of-life item.

4. A computer-readable medium as in claim 3, wherein the data structure further includes a fourth data field containing data identifying at least one replacement software item for the end-of-life item.

5. A computer-readable medium as in claim 1, wherein the software item is a software program component for use in building a run-time image.

6. A computer-readable medium as in claim 5, wherein the software item is an operating system component.

7. A method of specifying version information for a software item, comprising the steps of:

including a version-independent identifier in description data of the software item, the version-independent identifier being unchanged by revisions and upgrades to the software item;

including a version-specific identifier in the description data of the software item, the version-specific identifier being unchanged by revisions but changed by upgrades to the software item; and

including a revision number in the description data of the software item, the revision number being increased by each revision to the software item.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the version-independent and version-specific identifiers are globally unique identifiers.

9. A method as in claim 7, further includes the step of assigning the revision number a value indicating that the software item is an end-of-life item.

10. A method as in claim 9, further including the step of including in the description data of the software item data identifying at least one replacement software item.

11. A method as in claim 7, wherein the software item is a software program component for use in building a run-time image.

12. A method of modifying version information of a software item, comprising the steps of:

modifying the software item, the software item having description data representing a version-independent identifier unchanged by revisions and upgrades to the software item, a version-specific identifier unchanged by revisions but changed by upgrades to the software item, a revision number, and a release flag indicating that the software item has been released;

incrementing the revision number;

checking whether the release flag is set; and

changing the version-specific identifier to a new value if the release flag is set.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the version-independent and version-specific identifiers are globally unique identifiers.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein the software item is a software program components for use in building a run-time image.