Consolidated launching of multiple tasks

• US 8,219,991 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Soroker, Danny, Dig, Daniel Irimie, Caceres, Ramon, Purakayastha, Apratim, Demathieu, Sébastien
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/115,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 717/100, 717/101, 717/120
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Consolidating the launching of multiple tasks is provided. A task is launched when an associated software component is run or executed. In one embodiment, launch descriptions of individual tasks and composition parameters are respectively read. The parameters indicate relationships between the launchings of different tasks, such as launch order. A composite launch description is constructed, by selectively processing the individual launch descriptions and composition parameters, and the tasks are launched according to the composite launch description. In a further embodiment, multiple individual launch descriptions are delivered to a tool, each launch description being usable to launch a corresponding component to perform a corresponding task. The tool includes a set of launch relationships that specify the relationship between launchings of different components. The tool generates a single composite launch description that defines launching of the components in accordance with the launch relationships.

Claims

1. A method for consolidated launching of a plurality of tasks, the method comprising:

delivering, by a computer, a plurality of individual launch descriptions associated with the plurality of tasks as input to a tool that is included in an integrated development environment, wherein each individual launch description in the plurality of launch descriptions is used to launch a corresponding component within a plurality of components that performs a corresponding task in the plurality of tasks;

providing, by the computer, the tool with a set of launch relationships, wherein a given launch relationship specifies a relationship between launchings of two or more of the plurality of components;

operating, by the computer, the tool to generate a composite launch description that defines the launching of the plurality of components in based on each individual launch description in the plurality of launch descriptions and the set of launch relationships, wherein the composite launch description comprises a composite launch configuration in a hierarchical tree structure that consolidates launching of a collection of projects in the integrated development environment;

launching, by the computer, the plurality of components in a pre-specified order according to the composite launch description; and

halting, by the computer, a launch of a specified number of the plurality of components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a launched component comprises a software component that performs its corresponding task.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks comprise leaves in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein internal nodes in the hierarchical tree structure represent hierarchical groups of the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of launch relationships comprises composition launch parameters that apply both to the internal nodes and to the leaves in the hierarchical tree structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of launch relationships comprises one or more composition launch parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more composition launch parameters are selected from a group of parameters that includes an order in which respective components in the plurality of components are launched, timing delays in launching of respective components, a number of instances for launching a given component, required conditions for launching a given component, and a location for launching a given component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite launch description is retained.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical tree structure is viewable via a graphical user interface to select and launch a particular project subset within the collection of projects in the integrated development environment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components are launched to perform a debugging operation on a specified system.

10. A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage device having instructions embodied thereon that are executable by a computer for consolidated launching of a plurality of tasks, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for delivering a plurality of individual launch descriptions associated with the plurality of tasks as input to a tool that is included in an integrated development environment, wherein each individual launch description is used to launch a corresponding component within a plurality of components that performs a corresponding task in the plurality of tasks;

instructions for providing the tool with a set of launch relationships, wherein a given launch relationship specifies a relationship between launchings of two or more of the plurality of components;

instructions for operating the tool to generate a composite launch description that defines the launching of the plurality of components based on each individual launch description in the plurality of launch descriptions and the set of launch relationships, wherein the composite launch description comprises a composite launch configuration in a hierarchical tree structure that consolidates launching of a collection of projects in the integrated development environment;

instructions for launching the plurality of components in a pre-specified order according to the composite launch description; and

instructions for halting a launch of a specified number of the plurality of components.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks comprise leaves in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein internal nodes in the hierarchical tree structure represent hierarchical groups of the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the set of launch relationships comprises one or more composition launch parameters, and wherein the one or more launch parameters are selected from a group of parameters that includes an order in which respective components in the plurality of components are launched, timing delays in launching of respective components, a number of instances for launching a given component, required conditions for launching a given component, and a location for launching a given component.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the hierarchical tree structure is viewable via a graphical user interface to select and launch a particular project subset within the collection of projects in the integrated development environment.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the plurality of components are launched to perform a debugging operation on a specified system.

15. A computer system for consolidated launching of a plurality of tasks, the computer system comprising:

a bus system;

a storage device coupled to the bus system, wherein the storage device stores instructions; and

a processor coupled to the bus system, wherein the processor executes the instructions to;

deliver a plurality of individual launch descriptions associated with the plurality of tasks as input to a tool that is included in an integrated development environment, wherein each individual launch description is used to launch a corresponding component within a plurality of components that performs a corresponding task in the plurality of tasks;

provide the tool with a set of launch relationships, wherein a given launch relationship specifies a relationship between launchings of two or more of the plurality of components;

operate the tool to generate a composite launch description that defines the launching of at least some of said the plurality of components based on each individual launch description in the plurality of launch descriptions and the set of launch relationships, wherein the composite launch description comprises a composite launch configuration in a hierarchical tree structure that consolidates launching of a collection of projects in the integrated development environment;

launch the plurality of components in a pre-specified order according to the composite launch description; and

halt a launch of a specified number of the plurality of components.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks comprise leaves in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein internal nodes in the hierarchical tree structure represent hierarchical groups of the plurality of components and their corresponding tasks.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the hierarchical tree structure is viewable via a graphical user interface to select and launch a particular project subset within the collection of projects in the integrated development environment.