Methods and apparatus for implementing checkin policies in source code control systems

• US 20060200803A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Neumann, Douglas T., Anderson, Jason, Guckenheimer, Sam, Harry, Brian D., Lucas, Christian M., Hintz, Edward R. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for automatically evaluating compliance of at least one source code file against at least one checkin policy. In a further embodiment, providing information about the compliance or non-compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy. In another embodiment, providing an option to override a policy failure and submit the at least one source code file to a source code repository. In one embodiment, in response to an override of a policy failure, providing a notification about the override of the policy failure. In some embodiments, an extensible framework enabling the installation of at least one checkin policy plugin, and providing a notification that at least one checkin policy plugin is not installed. In further embodiments, providing and using a work item association policy plugin, a unit tests policy plugin, and a static analysis policy plugin.

Claims

1. A method for use in a computer system, the computer system comprising a source code repository that stores checked in source code, at least one checkin policy, and at least one source code file to be submitted to the source code repository, the method comprising an act of:

(A) automatically evaluating compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (A) is performed in real-time within an integrated development environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (A) is performed prior to a request to checkin the at least one source code file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of:

(B) providing information to a user about compliance or non-compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one checkin policy possesses a scope, and wherein the act (A) is only performed when the at least one source code file is within the scope of the at least one checkin policy.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of:

(C) providing an option to enable a non-compliant source code file to be checked in to the source code repository.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising an act of:

(D) in response to a user selecting the option to enable the non-compliant source code file to be checked into the source code repository, checking in the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository and providing notification to at least one notification subscriber of the checkin of the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system further comprises at least one policy plugin, the at least one policy plugin performing the act (A).

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising an act of:

(E) automatically evaluating compliance of the at least one source code file with at least one additional checkin policy; and

wherein the computer system further comprises an extensible framework enabling the installation of an additional policy plugin, the additional policy plugin performing the act (E).

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising acts of:

(F) determining that the at least one policy plugin is not installed; and

(G) providing a notification to a user that the at least one policy plugin is not installed.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one policy plugin comprises a work item association policy plugin.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one policy plugin comprises a unit tests policy plugin.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one policy plugin comprises a static analysis policy plugin.

14. At least one computer readable-medium encoded with a plurality of instructions in a computer system, the computer system comprising a source code repository that stores checked in source code, at least one checkin policy, and at least one source code file to be submitted to the source code repository, the plurality of instructions, when executed, performing a method comprising an act of:

(A) automatically evaluating compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.

15. The at least one computer readable-medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises an act of:

(B) providing information to a user about compliance or non-compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.

16. The at least one computer readable-medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises acts of:

(C) providing an option to enable a non-compliant source code file to be checked into the source code repository;

(D) in response to a user selecting the option to enable the non-compliant source code file to be checked into the source code repository, checking in the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository and providing notification to at least one notification subscriber of the checkin of the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository.

17. The at least one computer readable-medium of claim 14, wherein the computer system further comprises an extensible framework enabling the installation of at least one policy plugin, the at least one policy plugin performing the act (A).

18. At least one computer for use with a computer system comprising a source code repository that stores checked in source code, at least one checkin policy, and at least one source code file to be submitted to the source code repository, the at least one computer comprising:

at least one processor programmed to automatically evaluate compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.

19. The at least one computer of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

provide an option to enable a non-compliant source code file to be checked into the source code repository; and

in response to a user selecting the option to enable the non-compliant source code file to be checked into the source code repository, check in the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository and provide notification to at least one notification subscriber of the check in of the non-compliant source code file into the source code repository.

20. The at least one computer of claim 18, wherein the computer system further comprises an extensible framework enabling the installation of at least one policy plugin, the at least one policy plugin enabling the automatic evaluation of compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy.