Application retargeting

• US 20080134144A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, Adam D., Montgomery, John I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for retargeting applications to different types. A development environment is provided for writing software. Input is received from a user to write application logic for a project. The user selects an option to save the project as a particular type of project. The application logic is wrapped with metadata appropriate for the particular type of project and at least one resulting file is created. The system determines if the resulting file needs compiled, and if so, compiles the resulting file into a compiled application. A second selection can be received from the user to save the project as a second type. In such a case, the application logic is wrapped with metadata appropriate for the second type of project and at least one resulting file is created.

Claims

1. A method for retargeting a software application comprising the steps of:

providing a development environment;

receiving input from a user to write application logic for a project using the development environment;

receiving a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type;

wrapping the application logic with metadata that is appropriate for the particular type of project to create at least one resulting file;

determining if the resulting file needs compiled; and

if the resulting file is determined to need compiled, then compiling the resulting file into a compiled application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the development environment is implemented as a thin client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the development environment is implemented as a thick client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a web page.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a widget.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a Windows application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes at least one line of code that is specific to the particular type of project.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

provide a development environment;

receive input from a user to write application logic for a project;

receive a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type of project; and

wrap the application logic with metadata appropriate for the particular type of project.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the step comprising:

create at least one resulting file with an appropriate file extension.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the step comprising:

compile the at least one resulting file if compilation is determined to be appropriate.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the development environment is operable to be provided as a thin client.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the development environment is operable to be provided as a thick client.

15. A method for retargeting a software application comprising the steps of:

receiving input from a user to write application logic for a project;

receiving a selection from a user to generate the project as a first type;

wrapping the application logic with metadata appropriate for the first type and creating at least one resulting file appropriate for the first type;

receiving a second selection from the user to generate the project as a second type; and

wrapping the application logic with metadata appropriate for the second type and creating at least one resulting file appropriate for the second type.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first type of project is a different type of project than the second type.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first type of the project is selected from the group consisting of a web page, a widget, a Windows application, and a component.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the metadata appropriate for the first type includes at lease one line of code that is specific to the first type of project.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to receiving the selection to generate the project as the first type, saving the project in a neutral format that is not specific to a particular type of project.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 15.