Code builders

• US 7,665,061 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Warren, Susan M., Lin, Andrew C., Kothari, Nikhil, Guthrie, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US10/410,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 717104-125, 715802-810
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code

Abstract

Code builders can be used to generate code segments that are customized in response to user input. An integrated development environment provides links to one or more code builders that are configured for developing specific types of code. Once a code builder is selected or dragged and dropped on a code editor, a code builder interface is launched that prompts the user for input that will be applied to a document object model describing the basic attributes of the code segment. The code builder then generates the customized code and inserts it into a desired location within the integrated development environment.

Claims

1. In a computing system that includes an integrated development environment configured to receive user input for developing computing programs, a method for utilizing one or more code builders within the integrated development environment to generate customized code in response to the user input, the method comprising:

providing an integrated development environment including a plurality of code builders configured to generate code for a coded program in any of multiple code languages and in one or more markup languages by applying user input to corresponding code document object models, wherein the integrated development environment further includes;

a toolbox including a plurality of previously defined code builders;

a programming frame, wherein the programming frame includes a plurality of alternate display views for displaying program code comprising both source code and markup language code, the alternate display views including at least a visual design view, a markup language view, a code view, and a combined view, the code view displaying source code and having a plurality of lines for source code at which source code generated by the code builders can be placed, and the combined view displaying source code mixed with markup language, and wherein displaying the markup language view comprises running a separation algorithm on the existing program, wherein running the separation algorithm includes creating a WebForms document that contains an in-memory representation of the existing program in the form of a text buffer, the WebForms document containing the separation algorithm which is run and extracts source code and markup from the existing program and maintains each separately; and

an information view identifying properties associated with source code in the code view;

wherein each of the toolbox, programming frame, and information view are displayed simultaneously, in a common window of the integrated development environment;

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of previously defined code builders included in the toolbox;

in the code view, receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of lines for source code to identify a desired location in the code view for insertion of source code generated by the selected code builder;

automatically, and in response to receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of lines as the desired location for insertion of source code generated by the selected previously defined code builder within the coded program, and before inserting customized source code at the selected one of the plurality of lines, displaying a code builder interface that overlays the common window and which prompts a user for customized input that will be used to determine at least in part the code that is generated by the code builder;

receiving the customized input from the user;

applying the customized input to the corresponding document object model to dynamically generate customized source code after receipt of the user input selecting one of the plurality of lines for insertion of the source code; and

inserting the customized source code at the desired location within the code view of the integrated development environment.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder interface displays information for selection by the user, at least some of the displayed information being obtained by querying one or more services offered by the IDE.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder interface is launched when a corresponding code builder icon is selected by the user from the integrated development environment.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for sending email.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for updating data.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for inserting data.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for deleting data.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customized code is formatted in a manner consistent with existing integrated development environment conditions.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customized code comprises an entire program.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customized code is inserted into an existing program.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code builders utilize the ASP.NET framework.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customized input is received by the code builder interface through the use of at least one of type-in lines, pull-down menus and selectable display objects.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected code builder is configured to generate code in any of a plurality of different programming languages, and wherein applying the customized input to the corresponding document object model to generate customized source code comprises the code builder determining that other code in the code view is of a particular programming language and generating the customized source code in the particular programming language instead of other programming languages supported by the selected code builder.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected code builder includes one or more predetermined input types, and wherein displaying the code builder interface includes prompting a user for customized input of the one or more predetermined input types.

15. In a computing system that includes an integrated development environment configured to receive user input for developing computing programs, a method for utilizing one or more code builder interfaces within the integrated development environment to generate customized code in response to the user input, the method comprising:

providing an integrated development environment that includes one or more code builders interfaces configured to prompt a user for input that can be used by one or more corresponding code builders to generate customized code for a coded program and in any of multiple code languages and in one or more markup languages, the code being inserted at a desired location within a code view of the coded program within the integrated development environment, the integrated development environment including;

a toolbox that includes a plurality of previously defined code builders;

a programming frame for displaying program code comprising both source code and markup language code, the alternate display views, wherein the programming frame includes a plurality of alternate display views that include at least a visual design view, a markup language view, a code view, and a combined view, wherein the code view has a plurality of lines for source code at which source code generated by code builders can be placed, and the combined view has a plurality of lines for source code and markup language which can be mixed within the combined view, and wherein displaying the markup language view comprises running a separation algorithm on the existing program, wherein running the separation algorithm includes creating a WebForms document that contains an in-memory representation of the existing program in the form of a text buffer, the WebForms document containing the separation algorithm which is run and extracts source code and markup from the existing program and maintains each separately; and

an information view, wherein each of the toolbox, programming frame, and information view are displayed simultaneously, in a common window of the integrated development environment;

a step for developing the customized code with the one or more code builders and user input automatically requested upon selection of the one or more code builders for insertion, wherein the code is generated by receiving user input and applying the user input received by the one or more code builder interfaces to one or more corresponding document object models, and wherein the received user input includes user input from the code view which selects a particular line from the plurality of available lines for source code within the code view, the particular line being the desired location in the code view for insertion of the source code dynamically generated by the one or more previously defined code builders after receipt of the user input selecting the particular line as the desired location in the code view for insertion of the source code.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step for developing code includes:

receiving user input selecting one of the one or more code builders from the toolbox;

in the code view, receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of available lines for source code for placement of source code generated by the code builder as a desired location for the source code;

automatically, in response to receiving the user input selecting the one of the plurality of available lines, displaying the code builder interface and prompting a user for customized input that will be used to determine at least in part the source code that is generated by the code builder;

receiving the customized input;

applying the customized input to the corresponding document object model to generate customized source code; and

inserting the customized source code at the desired location within the code view of the integrated development environment.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein using the code, builder interface to prompt a user for customized input includes querying an IDE service such as for a list of available database connections to provide information that is presented to the user for selection.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of available lines within the code view for placement of code generated by the code builders includes dragging and dropping a code builder icon onto a selected line in the code view of the integrated development environment.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein dragging and dropping the code builder icon launches one of the one or more code builder interfaces.

20. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the code builders is configured to generate customized code for sending email.

21. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the code builders is configured to generate customized code for updating data.

22. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the code builders is configured to generate customized code for inserting data.

23. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the code builders is configured to generate customized code for deleting data.

24. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the customized code is formatted in a manner consistent with at least one of format, and programming languages identified by the integrated development environment.

25. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the customized code comprises an entire program.

26. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the customized code is inserted into an existing program.

27. A computer program product for use in a computing system that includes an integrated development environment configured to receive user input for developing computing programs, the computer program product comprising:

one or more physical computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for utilizing one or more code builders within the integrated development environment to generate customized code in response to the user input comprising;

displaying an integrated development environment including a plurality of code builders that are configured to generate code for a coded program in any of multiple code languages and in one or more markup languages and by applying user input to a corresponding code document object model (DOM), wherein the displayed integrated development environment further includes;

a toolbox including a plurality of previously defined code builders;

a programming frame, wherein the programming frame includes alternate display views for displaying program code comprising both source code and markup language code, the alternate display views, including at least a visual design view, a markup language view, a code view, and a combined view, the code view displaying source code and having a plurality of available lines for source code at which source code generated by code builders can be placed and the combined view having a plurality of available lines for the source code of the code view mixed with markup language of the markup view, and wherein displaying the markup language view comprises running a separation algorithm on the existing program, wherein running the separation algorithm includes creating a WebForms document that contains an in-memory representation of the existing program in the form of a text buffer, the WebForms document containing the separation algorithm which is run and extracts source code and markup from the existing program and maintains each separately; and

an information view identifying properties associated with source code in the code view;

wherein each of the toolbox, programming frame, and information view are displayed simultaneously, in a common window of the integrated development environment;

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of previously defined code builders included in the toolbox;

in the code view, receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of available lines for source code to identify a desired location in the code view for insertion of source code generated by the selected code builder;

automatically, and in response to receiving the user input selecting one of the plurality of previously defined code builders and the one of the plurality of available lines as the desired location, displaying a code builder interface overlaying the common window and prompting a user for customized input that will be used to determine at least in part the code that is generated by the previously defined code builder;

receiving the customized input;

determining a programming language currently being used by the user in the code view;

applying the customized input to the corresponding code (DOM) to dynamically generate a class of customized source code after receipt of the user input selecting one of the plurality of available lines for source code, the customized source code being automatically generated in the same programming language as the programming language currently being used in the code view; and

inserting the customized source code at the desired location within the code view of the integrated development environment.

28. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder interface displays information for selection by the user, at least some of the displayed information being obtained by querying one or more databases connected with the IDE.

29. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder interface is launched when a corresponding code builder icon is selected by the user from the integrated development environment.

30. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the customized code is placed within the integrated development environment at a location designated by a user when selecting the one or more code builders.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for sending email.

32. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for updating data.

33. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for inserting data.

34. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builder is configured to generate customized code for deleting data.

35. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the customized code is formatted in a manner consistent with at least one of format and programming languages identified by the integrated development environment.

36. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the customized code comprises an entire program.

37. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the customized code is inserted into an existing program.

38. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the code builders utilize an ASP.NET framework.

39. A computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the customized input is received by the code builder interface through the use of at least one of type-in lines, pull-down menus and selectable display objects.