Application retargeting

• US 8,209,662 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, Adam D., Montgomery, John I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deng, Anna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria, Satish
• Application Number:
  US11/633,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 717110-113, 717120-123, 717136-143
• US Class Current: 717/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for retargeting applications to different types. A development environment is provided for writing software. Input is received from a user to write application logic for a project. The user selects an option to save the project as a particular type of project. The application logic is wrapped with metadata appropriate for the particular type of project and at least one resulting file is created. The system determines if the resulting file needs compiled, and if so, compiles the resulting file into a compiled application. A second selection can be received from the user to save the project as a second type. In such a case, the application logic is wrapped with metadata appropriate for the second type of project and at least one resulting file is created.

Claims

1. A method for retargeting a software application comprising the steps of:

providing a development environment, the development environment comprising a processing unit coupled to a memory;

receiving input from a user to write application logic for a project using the development environment;

receiving a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type;

targeting the project by wrapping the application logic with metadata that is appropriate for the particular type of project to create at least one resulting file, the at least one resulting file comprising the appropriate metadata for the particular type and the application logic, the at least one resulting file created with an appropriate extension, wherein the application logic is configured to be retargeted to a second type at a later point in time;

determining if the resulting file needs compiled;

if the resulting file is determined to need compiled, then compiling the resulting file into a compiled application; and

retargeting the application by wrapping the application logic with metadata that is appropriate for the second type to create at least one second resulting file, the second type is a different project type than the particular type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the development environment is implemented as a thin client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a widget.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a Windows application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of the project is a component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes at least one line of code that is specific to the particular type of project.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

provide a development environment;

receive input from a user to write application logic for a project using the development environment;

save the project in a neutral format that is not specific to a particular type of project;

receive a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type of project;

targeting the project by wrapping the application logic with metadata that is appropriate for the particular type of project to create at least one resulting file, the at least one resulting file comprising the appropriate metadata for the particular type and the application logic, the at least one resulting file created with an appropriate extension, wherein the application logic is configured to be retargeted to a second type at a later point in time;

determining if the resulting file needs compiled;

if the resulting file is determined to need compiled, then compiling the resulting file into a compiled application; and

retargeting the application by wrapping the application logic with metadata that is appropriate for the second type to create at least one second resulting file, the second type is a different project type than the particular type.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the step comprising:

compile the at least one resulting file if compilation is determined to be appropriate.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the development environment is operable to be provided as a thin client.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the development environment is operable to be provided as a thick client.

13. A method for retargeting a software application comprising the steps of:

using a processing unit, receiving input from a user to write application logic for a project;

receiving a selection from a user to generate the project as a first type;

receiving a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type;

wrapping the application logic with metadata appropriate for the first type and creating at least one resulting file appropriate for the first type, the at least one resulting file appropriate for the first type comprising the metadata appropriate for the first type and the application logic;

receiving a second selection from the user to generate the project as a second type; and

receiving a selection from the user to save the project as a particular type;

retargeting the project of the first type by wrapping the application logic with metadata appropriate for the second type and creating at least one resulting file appropriate for the second type, the at least one resulting file appropriate for the second type comprising the metadata appropriate for the second type and the application logic, the at least one resulting file created with an appropriate extension;

determining if the resulting file needs compiled; and

if the resulting file is determined to need compiled, then compiling the resulting file into a compiled application.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of project is a different type of project than the second type.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of the project is selected from the group consisting of a web page, a widget, a Windows application, and a component.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the metadata appropriate for the first type includes at lease one line of code that is specific to the first type of project.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

prior to receiving the selection to generate the project as the first type, saving the project in a neutral format that is not specific to a particular type of project.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 13.