System and method for performing automated incremental compilation of computer programs

• US 6,728,951 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gibson, James Douglas, Hylander, Paul Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEELMAN, MARY J
• Application Number:
  US09/549,346
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 717/140, 717/162-164, 717/111
• US Class Current: 717/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A system and method are described for providing automated incremental compilation of computer programs. The system has a library generation logic that generates a dynamic link library of a plurality of computer programs, and a work area creation logic that creates a program work area. A program copy logic copies at least one computer program into the program work area to enable the computer program to be modified. A program generation logic then generates an executable program that includes all of the computer programs in said program work area and the plurality of computer programs in the dynamic link library.

Claims

1. A method to automate the incremental compilation of computer programs, the method comprising the steps of:

linking a dynamically loadable library of a plurality of precompiled object code routines suitable for use by a plurality of executable computer programs, the dynamically loadable library comprising non-executable object code representations of base release object programs;

providing a program work area configured to accept a source version of each of the plurality of base release object programs, the program work area further configured to permit modification of said source versions of the plurality of base release object programs;

generating at least one modified object program within said program work area responsive to source version modification of an associated base release object program; and

producing a modified executable object program responsive to the at least one modified object program and the dynamically loadable library, wherein the program work area retains executable object programs for modified object programs and relies on said library to retain the unmodified base release object programs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of producing a modified executable object program, further comprises the step of:

identifying the modified object program in said program work area.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

placing said at least one modified executable object program into said dynamic link library in response to a request to publish the modified executable object program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of program work areas wherein each program work area is associated with a programmer.

5. A system for automating the incremental compilation of computer programs, comprising:

a processor;

an interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a system memory communicatively coupled to the processor and to the interface, the system memory comprising;

a library logic that manages a plurality of dynamically loadable, previously linked, and precompiled object code routines suitable for use by executable computer programs, wherein the dynamically loadable library comprises non-executable object code representations of base release object programs;

a work area logic that creates a program work area configured to accept a source version of each of the base release object programs, the program work area further configured to enable modification of said source versions of the plurality of base release object programs; and

an incremental build logic that generates at least one modified object program in said program work area, the at least one modified object program responsive to source version modification of an associated base release object program and a modified executable object program responsive to the at least one modified object program and the dynamically loadable library wherein said program work area retains executable object programs for modified object programs and relies upon said library to retain unmodified base release object programs.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

an identification logic that identifies the modified object program in said program work area.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a placement logic that places said at least one modified executable object program into said work area.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a library placement logic that links said at least one modified executable object program with said dynamic link library.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said work area creation logic further comprises:

logic that creates a plurality of program work areas wherein each program work area is associated with a programmer.

10. A system for automating the incremental compilation of computer programs comprising:

means for generating a dynamically loadable and previously linked library comprising a plurality of precompiled object code routines suitable for use by executable computer programs, the dynamically loadable library comprising non-executable object code representations of base release object programs;

means for providing a program work area configured to accept a source version of each of the plurality of base release object programs, the program work area further configured to permit modification of said source versions of the plurality of base release object programs in said program work area;

means for generating at least one modified object program within said program work area responsive to source version modification of an associated base release object program; and

means for producing a modified executable object program responsive to the at least one modified object program and the dynamically loadable library within said program work area, wherein said library retains the unmodified base release object programs and only modified object programs are placed within said program work area.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said means for generating at least one modified object program within said program work area further comprises:

means for identifying the at least one a modified object program in said program work area.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for linking said at least one modified executable object program with said dynamically loadable library.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said means for providing a program work area configured to accept a source version of each of the plurality of base release object programs further comprises:

means for providing a plurality of program work areas wherein each program work area is associated with a programmer.

14. A computer-readable medium for automating the incremental compilation of computer programs, comprising:

means recorded on said medium for generating a dynamically loadable and previously linked library comprising a plurality of precompiled object code routines suitable for use by executable computer programs, the dynamically loadable library comprising non-executable object code representations of base release object programs;

means recorded on said medium for creating at least one program work area configured to accept a source version of each of the plurality of base release object programs, the program work area further configured to permit modification of said source versions of the plurality of base release object executable computer programs in said program work area; and

means recorded on said medium for generating at least one modified object program within said program work area responsive to source version modification of an associated base release object program; and

means recorded on said medium for producing a modified executable object program responsive to the at least one modified object program and the dynamically loadable library wherein said library retains unmodified base release object programs and only modified object programs are placed within said program work area.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said means recorded on said medium for generating at least one modified object program further includes:

means for identifying a modified object program in said program work area.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said means recorded on said medium for generating at least one modified object program further includes:

means for linking said at least one modified executable object program with said dynamic link library.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said means recorded on said medium for generating at least one modified object program further includes:

means for providing a plurality of program work areas wherein each program work area is associated with a programmer.