System and method for generating and maintaining software code

• US 7,110,936 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Complementsoft LLC
• Original Assignee: Complementsoft LLC
• Inventors: Hiew, Fen, Schroeder, Edwin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRIS III, FRED O
• Application Number:
  US09/992,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 703/22, 717/108, 717/100, 717/134, 717/135, 345/700
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A system and method for intelligently generating computer code. The system being comprised of a local computer, which is connected to a remote computer via a network system or the Internet and which is capable of exchanging files with the remote computer. The local computer is further comprised of a document manager for transferring files between the local computer and the remote computer and for providing enhanced file management functions. The document manager works in connection with the server module, the site manager and the connectivity layer to connect to remote computers, to transparently exchange files with the remote computer and to manage server profiles and connection information that is related to remote computers and transferred files. Once the file is transferred to the local computer, the editor can modify the code associated with the file; the editor is also capable of creating new files. The visualizer is capable of displaying a program flow diagram and a data flow diagram, which are comprised of program flow icons and data flow arrows to depict the code in terms of processing blocks and data blocks. To assist in developing new code or editing existing code, the template manager allows the user to browse through a directory of existing code sections or templates and to copy templates into the selected code for editing. For allowing the editor to process code that is written in different Data Management System programming languages and for creating the program flow icons, the parser layer detects the file type of a selected file and activates the rules and logic that apply to the corresponding Data Management System.

Claims

1. An integrated development environment, comprising:

a document manager for retrieving source code programmed using one of a plurality of types of data manipulation languages;

an editor for displaying the retrieved source code and providing a means for a user to edit the retrieved source code;

a parser layer which detects the one of the plurality of types of data manipulation languages in which the retrieved source code is programmed and which activates rules and logic applicable to the detected one of the plurality of types of data manipulation languages; and

a visualizer dynamically linked to the editor for displaying graphical representations of flows within the retrieved source code using the rules and logic applicable to the detected one of the plurality of types of data manipulation languages and activated by the parser, wherein the editor, parser layer and visualizer cooperate such that edits made to the source code using the editor are automatically reflected in the graphical representations of flows displayed by the visualizer and edits made to the graphical representations of flows in the visualizer are automatically reflected in the source code displayed by the editor.

2. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical representations of flows depict data flows.

3. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical representations of flows depict program flows.

4. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical representations of data flows are expandable and collapsible.

5. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the document manager retrieves all files related to the source code to be edited.

6. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the document manager comprises a site manager and a connectivity layer for retrieving source code from one or more remote computers.

7. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 6, wherein the document manager comprises a security layer for managing secure connections with the one or more remote computers.

8. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, wherein the editor comprises a template manager for allowing preprogrammed segment of source code to be placed within the source code being edited.

9. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 8, wherein the template manager is adapted to automatically correct segments of the source code.

10. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 8, wherein the template manager is adapted to automatically generate segments of the source code.

11. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 1, further comprising a means for allowing the source code to be executed both locally and remotely.

12. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 11, wherein the parser layer further examines error log files generated by the means for allowing the source code to be executed to determine segments of the source code determined to include errors.

13. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 12, wherein the visualizer cooperates with the parser layer to change the appearance of displayed flows as a function of the source code segments determined to have errors.

14. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 12, wherein the editor cooperates with the parser layer to change the appearance of portions of the displayed source code as a function of the software segments determined to have errors.

15. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 12, further comprising a message manager cooperating with the parser layer for displaying debugging hints as a function of the source code segments determined to have errors.

16. The integrated development environment as recited in claim 15, wherein the message manager allows a user to edit and maintain debugging hints for a variety of different errors.