System and method for providing a query object development environment
First Claim
1. An integrated development environment operable in a computer with a memory for generating source code which implements and tests a query object that accesses a database, the query object having a method that, when invoked, submits a predefined query to the database, the environment comprising:
- an internal state store which stores database-independent information representing the query object in the memory, the database-independent information including a database-independent query to be implemented by the query object;
a first code generator which is responsive to the database-independent information for generating source code which implements the query object and the method from the database-independent query;
a second code generator which is responsive to the database-independent information for generating test code for the query object;
a builder which is responsive to the source code which implements the query object for building a query object program and is responsive to the source code which implements the test code for building a test program; and
a test framework which operates with the test program to test the query object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A query object generator tool which generates interface definitions and code that implement a query object also generates a graphic user interface (GUI) for controlling the generator tool and plug-in objects, including a database schema access query object and test objects for allowing the GUI to operate with vendor-specific databases. The GUI is “customized” by the various plug-in objects. For example, the database schema access query object is designed specifically for a particular underlying database and retrieves “metadata” concerning the database schema. The retrieved metadata is then displayed as part of the graphic user interface to assist the user in constructing a query object. Test objects are also generated by the GUI in response to a user request. The test objects contain information that characterizes the query object for testing purposes. The information in the test objects is used with a test framework to install and initialize the query object. The test framework also uses the information in the test objects to customize part of the GUI in order to allow a user to view and interact with the installed query object. In particular, the customized GUI allows a developer to enter input parameters for a query directly from the interface and use the installed query object to perform a query with the input parameters. Results which are returned from the query are displayed on the interface.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An integrated development environment operable in a computer with a memory for generating source code which implements and tests a query object that accesses a database, the query object having a method that, when invoked, submits a predefined query to the database, the environment comprising:
-
an internal state store which stores database-independent information representing the query object in the memory, the database-independent information including a database-independent query to be implemented by the query object;
a first code generator which is responsive to the database-independent information for generating source code which implements the query object and the method from the database-independent query;
a second code generator which is responsive to the database-independent information for generating test code for the query object;
a builder which is responsive to the source code which implements the query object for building a query object program and is responsive to the source code which implements the test code for building a test program; and
a test framework which operates with the test program to test the query object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for providing an integrated development environment operable in a computer with a memory for generating source code which implements and tests a query object that accesses a database, the query object having a method that, when invoked, submits a predefined query to the database, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) storing database-independent information representing the query object in the memory, the database-independent information including a database-independent query to be implemented by the query object;
(b) generating source code which implements the query object and the method from the database-independent query in response to the database-independent information;
(c) generating test-code for the query object in response to the database-independent information;
(d) building a query object program from the source code which implements the query object and building a test program from the source code which implements the test code; and
(e) operating the test program with a test framework to test the query object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
(f) generating a display screen for the query object, the display screen displaying database-independent information for each query in the query object.
-
-
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein step (f) comprises the step of:
(f1) using a graphic input mechanism to receive the database-independent query from a user and to storethe database-independent query in the memory.
-
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the screen display controls steps (b),(c) and (d).
-
18. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of:
(g) retrieving database metadata with a database schema access object.
-
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein step (g) comprises the step of:
(g1) retrieving database stored procedures with the database schema access object.
-
20. A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:
(h) using the database schema access object to display the metadata on the display screen to enable the user to formulate the database-independent query.
-
21. A method according to claim 13 wherein step (e) comprises the step of:
(e1) using the test framework to generate a graphic user interface which controls testing of the query object.
-
22. A method according to claim 13 wherein the query object is a distributed object and wherein step (b) comprises the step of:
(b1) generating source code which implements interface definitions for the query object.
-
23. A method according to claim 13 wherein the test code is class code for a distributed test object and wherein step (c) comprises the step of:
(c1) generating test code which implements interface definitions for the test object.
-
24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the query object is a distributed object and step (e) comprises the steps of:
-
(e2) installing the query object program as a server;
(e3) connecting to the query object; and
(e4) testing the query object.
-
-
25. A computer program product for providing an integrated development environment operable in a computer with a memory for generating source code which implements and tests a query object that accesses a database, the query object having a method that, when invoked, submits a predefined query to the database, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:
-
program code for storing database-independent information representing the query object in the memory, the database-independent information including a database-independent query to be implemented by the query object;
program code for generating source code which implements the query object and the method from the database-independent query in response to the database-independent information;
program code for generating test code for the query object in response to the database-independent information;
program code for building a query object program from the source code which implements the query object and building a test program from the source code which implements the test code; and
test framework program code which operates with the test program to test the query object.
-
Specification