DYNAMIC PLUGIN(S) FOR CLOUD APPLICATION(S)

• US 20130263088A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hoff, Phillip M., Wu, Sung Hon, Birov, Lubomir I., Cunningham, John A., Crider, Anthony Lavel
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45529 Embedded in an application, e.g. JavaScript in a Web browser

Abstract

Techniques are described herein that are capable of dynamically installing plugin(s) for application(s). An agent plugin is caused to run in a deployment of a specified application (e.g., across multiple machines in a cloud environment or “on premises”). The specified application is packaged to include the agent plugin. The agent plugin is used to install designated plugin(s) dynamically based on configuration information regarding the specified application. The configuration information indicates that the designated plugin(s) are to be installed in response to the specified application being deployed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying configuration information regarding a specified application, the configuration information indicating that at least one designated plugin selected from one or more plugins, which are stored in a location that is accessible to deployed applications, is to be installed in response to the specified application being deployed;

causing an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of the specified application, the specified application being packaged to include the agent plugin; and

using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the configuration information in response to causing the agent plugin to run in the first deployment of the specified application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further indicates one or more dependencies of the specified application;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

using the agent plugin to install the one or more dependencies based on the configuration information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration information further indicates at least one dependency of the at least one designated plugin;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

using the agent plugin to install the at least one dependency of the at least one designated plugin based on the configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the configuration information comprises:

identifying a feed that includes the at least one designated plugin, location information regarding a location of the at least one designated plugin, and installation information that includes instructions for installing the at least one designated plugin; and

wherein using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically comprises;

using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the location information and the installation information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one designated plugin includes a respective plurality of executable binaries;

wherein the configuration information indicates for each of the at least one designated plugin a respective subset of the respective plurality of executable binaries; and

wherein the method further comprises;

using the agent plugin to execute each subset based on the configuration information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the configuration information comprises:

identifying a predetermined configuration file that indicates at least one configuration setting for each of the at least one designated plugin; and

wherein the method further comprises;

using the agent plugin to execute the at least one designated plugin based on the predetermined configuration file in response to using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the configuration information comprises:

requesting a configuration file that corresponds to the first deployment of the specified application from a web application via which the configuration file is generated; and

receiving the configuration file from the web application, the configuration file indicating at least one configuration setting for each of the at least one designated plugin; and

wherein the method further comprises;

using the agent plugin to execute the at least one designated plugin based on the configuration file in response to using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an interface via which the one or more plugins are uploaded by one or more users;

selecting the at least one designated plugin from the one or more plugins based on first user-initiated instructions that specify the at least one designated plugin; and

generating the configuration information to include configuration settings of the at least one designated plugin, the configuration settings being specified by second user-initiated instructions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting one or more dependencies of the specified application based on third user-initiated instructions that specify the one or more dependencies.

10. A system comprising:

an identification module configured to identify configuration information regarding a specified application, the configuration information indicating that at least one designated plugin selected from one or more plugins, which are stored in a location that is accessible to deployed applications, is to be installed in response to the specified application being deployed;

a causation module configured to cause an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of the specified application, the specified application being packaged to include the agent plugin; and

an installation module configured to use the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the configuration information in response to the agent plugin being caused to run in the first deployment of the specified application.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the configuration information further indicates one or more dependencies of the specified application;

and

wherein the installation module is further configured to use the agent plugin to install the one or more dependencies based on the configuration information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration information further indicates at least one dependency of the at least one designated plugin;

and

wherein the installation module is further configured to use the agent plugin to install the at least one dependency of the at least one designated plugin based on the configuration information.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the identification module is configured to identify a feed that includes the at least one designated plugin, location information regarding a location of the at least one designated plugin, and installation information that includes instructions for installing the at least one designated plugin;

and

wherein the installation module is configured to use the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the location information and the installation information.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the at least one designated plugin includes a respective plurality of executable binaries;

wherein the configuration information indicates for each of the at least one designated plugin a respective subset of the respective plurality of executable binaries; and

wherein the system further comprises;

an execution module configured to use the agent plugin to execute each subset based on the configuration information.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an interface module configured to provide an interface via which the one or more plugins are uploaded by one or more users;

a selection module configured to select the at least one designated plugin from the one or more plugins based on first user-initiated instructions that specify the at least one designated plugin; and

a generation module configured to generate the configuration information to include configuration settings of the at least one designated plugin, the configuration settings being specified by second user-initiated instructions.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the selection module is further configured to select one or more dependencies of the specified application based on third user-initiated instructions that specify the one or more dependencies.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an execution module configured to use the agent plugin to perform a first execution of the at least one designated plugin in response to using the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin; and

a determination module configured to determine whether the specified application is to be recycled;

wherein the identification module is further configured to identify a state of the first execution;

wherein the causation module is further configured to cause the agent plugin to run in a subsequent deployment of the specified application in response to a determination that the specified application is to be recycled, the subsequent deployment being initiated after initiation of the first deployment;

wherein the installation module is further configured to use the agent plugin to re-install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the configuration information in response to causing the agent plugin to run in the subsequent deployment of the specified application; and

wherein the execution module is further configured to use the agent plugin to initiate a second execution of the at least one designated plugin in the state of the first execution in response to using the agent plugin to re-install the at least one designated plugin.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a determination module configured to determine whether the configuration information is changed while the specified application is running;

wherein the installation module is further configured to use the agent plugin to install one or more second designated plugins dynamically while the specified application is running based on changed configuration information in response to a determination that the configuration information is changed to provide the changed configuration information, the changed configuration information indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed, the configuration information prior to being changed not indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor-based system to dynamically install at least one designated plugin with respect to a specified application, the computer program product comprising:

a first program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to identify configuration information regarding the specified application, the configuration information indicating that the at least one designated plugin selected from one or more plugins, which are stored in a location that is accessible to deployed applications, is to be installed in response to the specified application being deployed;

a second program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to cause an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of the specified application across a plurality of machines in a cloud environment, the specified application being packaged to include the agent plugin;

a third program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to determine whether the configuration information is changed while the specified application is running; and

a fourth program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to use the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the configuration information in response to the agent plugin being caused to run in the first deployment of the specified application and for enabling the processor-based system to use the agent plugin to install one or more second designated plugins dynamically while the specified application is running based on changed configuration information in response to a determination that the configuration information is changed to provide the changed configuration information, the changed configuration information indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed, the configuration information prior to being changed not indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the first program logic module includes logic for enabling the processor-based system to identify a feed that includes the at least one designated plugin, location information regarding a location of the at least one designated plugin, and installation information that includes instructions for installing the at least one designated plugin;

and

wherein the fourth program logic module includes logic for enabling the processor-based system to use the agent plugin to install the at least one designated plugin dynamically based on the location information and the installation information.