Methods and systems for identifying dependencies between object-oriented elements

• US 7,055,130 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Charisius, Dietrich, Coad, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): INGBERG, TODD D
• Application Number:
  US09/839,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 717/108, 717/106, 717/100, 717/109, 717/116, 717/128
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/74 Reverse engineering; Extracting design information from source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/75 Structural analysis for program understanding

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that represents multiple dependencies between a dependent node and a defining node in a project as a single dependency link. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention also identify and display details regarding each dependency in a project upon request by the user.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;

displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;

receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node; and

in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency, representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dependencies is represented as a single link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each node comprises an element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a use of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a declaration of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a call to a method of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a local variable definition using the defining node element in a method of the dependent node element.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the dependent node element comprises a class.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the dependent node element comprises an interface.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the defining node element comprises a class.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the defining node element comprises an interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the dependent node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the package comprises a plurality of elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises a class.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises an interface.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the package comprises a plurality of elements.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises a class.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises an interface.

20. A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first use comprises a declaration.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an attribute declaration that uses the second node.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an initializer of an attribute declaration that uses the second node.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an argument parameter of a method that uses the second node.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the second use comprises a second declaration.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a call to a method of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the call to the method of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a call to a method of the second node.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a second call to the method of the second node.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a declaration of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the declaration of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

36. A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;

receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first use comprises a declaration.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the second use comprises a second declaration.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a call to a method of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the call to the method of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises the method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the first use comprises a call to a method of the second node.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the second use comprises a call to the method of the second node.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain a second call to the method of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

48. A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;

receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, displaying the usage of the second node by the first node.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein each node comprises an element.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the method further comprises the step of displaying the first node element.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising the step of displaying the first node with the first node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the method further comprises the step of displaying the second node element.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

56. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;

displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;

receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node; and

in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency, representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node.

53. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of displaying the second node with the second node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the plurality of dependencies is represented as a single link.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein each node comprises an element.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a use of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a declaration of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a call to a method of the defining node element by the dependent node element.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein one of the plurality of dependencies comprises a local variable definition using the defining node element in a method of the dependent node element.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the dependent node element comprises a class.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the dependent node element comprises an interface.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the defining node element comprises a class.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the defining node element comprises an interface.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the dependent node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface and a package.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the package comprises a plurality of elements.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises a class.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises an interface.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 56, wherein the defining node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface and a package.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein the package comprises a plurality of elements.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises a class.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein one of the plurality of elements comprises an interface.

75. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the first use comprises a declaration.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an attribute declaration that uses the second node.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an initializer of an attribute declaration that uses the second node.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the step of determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node comprises the step of searching the code corresponding to the first node for an argument parameter of a method that uses the second node.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the second use comprises a second declaration.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 80, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a call to a method of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the call to the method of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 80, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

83. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a call to a method of the second node.

84. The computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a second call to the method of the second node.

85. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

86. The computer-readable medium of claim 84, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a declaration of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the declaration of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

87. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 87, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a second local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

90. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

91. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;

receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

92. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the first use comprises a declaration.

93. The computer-readable medium of claim 92, wherein the second use comprises a second declaration.

94. The computer-readable medium of claim 93, wherein:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a call to a method of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the call to the method of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

95. The computer readable medium of claim 93, wherein:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

96. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a call to a method of the second node.

97. The computer-readable medium of claim 96, wherein the second use comprises a second call to the method of the second node.

98. The computer-readable medium of claim 97, wherein:

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

99. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

100. The computer-readable medium of claim 99, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a second local variable definition using the second node in a method of the first node.

101. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

102. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

103. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;

receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;

determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node; and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, displaying the usage of the second node by the first node.

104. The computer-readable medium of claim 103, wherein each node comprises an element.

105. The computer-readable medium of claim 104, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the method further comprises the step of displaying the first node element.

106. The computer-readable medium of claim 105, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the first node with the first node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

107. The computer-readable medium of claim 104, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the method further comprises the step of displaying the second node element.

108. The computer-readable medium of claim 107, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the second node with the second node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

109. The computer-readable medium of claim 103, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

110. The computer-readable medium of claim 103, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

111. A data processing system comprising:

a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;

a memory device further comprising a program that displays a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes, that

determines whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, the program determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node; and

a processor for running the program.

112. The data processing system of claim 111, wherein the first node is selected from the group comprising a class, and interface, and a package.

113. The data processing system of claim 111, wherein the second node is selected from the group comprising a class, an interface, and a package.

114. The data processing system of claim 111, wherein the first use comprises a declaration.

115. The data processing system of claim 114, wherein the second use comprises a second declaration.

116. The data processing system of claim 115, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, the program

determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a call to a method of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the call to the method of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

117. The data processing system of claim 115, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second declaration of the second node, the program

determines whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

118. The data processing system of claim 111, wherein the first use of the second node comprises a call to a method of the second node.

119. The data processing system of claim 118, wherein the second use of the second node comprises a second call to the method of the second node.

120. The data processing system of claim 119, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, the program

determines whether the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having a local variable definition using the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node comprises a method having the local variable definition using the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

121. The data processing system of claim 119, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node does not contain the second call to the method of the second node, the program

determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a declaration of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the declaration of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.

122. A data processing system comprising:

a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;

a memory device further comprising a program that receives an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes, that

receives an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes, that determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, the program determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node; and

a processor for running the program.

123. The data processing system of claim 122, wherein the first node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

124. The data processing system of claim 122, wherein the second node is selected from the group consisting of a class, an interface, and a package.

125. The data processing system of claim 122, wherein the first use and the second use each comprise a declaration.

126. The data processing system of claim 122, wherein the first use and the second use each comprise a call to a method.

127. A data processing system comprising:

a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;

a memory device further comprising a program that receives an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes, that

receives an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes, that

determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node, and

when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the program displays the usage of the second node by the first node; and

a processor for running the program.

128. The data processing system of claim 127, wherein each node comprises an element.

129. The data processing system of claim 128, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the program further displays the first node element.

130. The data processing system of claim 129, wherein the program further displays the first node with the first node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

131. The data processing system of claim 128, wherein when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the program further displays the second node element.

132. The data processing system of claim 131, wherein the program further displays the second node with the second node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.

133. The data processing system of claim 127, wherein the first node is selected from the group comprising a class, an interface, and a package.

134. The data processing system of claim 127, wherein the second node is selected from the group comprising a class, an interface, and a package.

135. A system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the system comprising:

means for displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;

means for displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;

means for receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node; and

means for representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency.