Systems, methods and computer program products for building frameworks in an object oriented environment

• US 5,987,247 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lau, Christina
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US08/853,207
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 395/702, 395/701, 395/705, 395/708, 395/703, 395/709, 345/344, 345/433, 364/704, 364/601
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products enable framework building by interactively generating a framework corresponding to a design and editing the interactively generated framework to obtain a completed framework. The framework is displayed in various stages of construction or modification using a number of different views including a tree view, a graph view, a method view and an edit view. In addition, parts of the framework are identified as requiring completion, as completed, and as permitting completion. Still further, user methods and framework methods are differentiated. Help guided actions are provided and may be invoked to assist in the development process. Once the framework has been completed, it can be stored in a data model, and code can be generated from the completed framework. Finally, interfaces developed using conventional editors may be parsed and imported into the data model for later code generation. As a result of the present invention, code may be generated based on the completed framework and executed in a distributed computing environment.

Claims

1. A system for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said system comprising:

means for generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework corresponding to at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

means for displaying the generated initial framework;

means for accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework; and

means for implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework;

wherein said generating means further comprises;

means for displaying options for types of run-time objects and for selecting selection of at least one of said options for types of run-time objects to be included in the completed framework;

means for generating run-time objects from said selected options and a business logic design; and

means for storing the run-time objects.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating an initial framework comprises:

means for differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

means for identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said displaying means comprises means, responsive to said identifying means, for displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said displaying means comprises:

means for displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

means for displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

means for displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

means for displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting means.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for storing said completed framework.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising means for generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising:

means for parsing interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

means for importing said parsed interface definitions into said storing means.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said design is a business logic design.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said means for generating an initial framework comprises;

means for accepting an initial business logic design;

means, responsive to said initial business logic design generating means, for generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

means, responsive to said business logic design generating means, for importing said business logic design to said initial framework generating means.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating an initial framework comprises:

means for displaying options for components of said initial framework and for accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

means for generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

means for storing the generated initial framework.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said completed framework is executed in a distributed computing enviroment.

14. A system for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said system comprising:

means for generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework comprising at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

means for displaying the generated initial framework;

means for accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework;

means for implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework; and

wherein said displaying and accepting means comprises;

means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of object types and for accepting selection of at least one of said displayed object type options;

means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of types of storage means for storing persistent data corresponding to the initial framework and for accepting selection of one of said plurality of types of storage means for storing persistent data;

means for displaying options corresponding to instance management of the initial framework and for accepting selection of one of said options corresponding to instance management;

means for displaying attributes corresponding to the initial framework and for accepting selection of one of said attributes as a primary key and one of said attributes as a secondary key;

means for displaying the attributes corresponding to the initial framework and for accepting selection of at least one of said attributes for inclusion in a copy helper class; and

means for displaying options corresponding to home and for accepting selection of at least one of said options corresponding to home.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said generating means comprises:

means for differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

means for identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises means, responsive to said Identifying means, for displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises:

means for displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

means for displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

means for displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

means for displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting means.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

19. The system according to claim 14 further comprising means for storing said completed framework.

20. The system according to claim 19 further comprising means for generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

21. The system according to claim 20 further comprising:

means for parsing interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

means for importing said parsed interface definitions into said storing means.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein said design is a business logic design.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said generating means comprises;

means for accepting an initial business logic design;

means, responsive to said initial business logic design generating means, for generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

means, responsive to said business logic design generating means, for importing said business logic design to said initial framework generating means.

25. The system according to claim 14, wherein said generating means comprises:

means for displaying options for components of said initial framework and for accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

means for generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

means for storing the generated initial framework.

26. The system according to claim 14, wherein said completed framework is executed in a distributed computing environment.

27. A method for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said method comprising:

generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework corresponding to at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

displaying the generated initial framework;

accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework;

implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework; and

wherein said generating step further comprises;

displaying options for types of run-time objects and for selecting selection of at least one of said options for types of run-time objects to be included in the completed framework;

generating run-time objects from said selected options and a business logic design; and

storing the run-time objects.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said generating step comprises:

differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step of displaying the generated initial framework comprises displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said displaying step comprises:

displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting step.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

32. The method according to claim 27 further comprising storing said completed framework.

33. The method according to claim 32 further comprising generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

34. The method according to claim 33 further comprising:

parsing interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

importing said parsed interface definitions into said storing step.

35. The method according to claim 27, wherein said design is a business logic design.

36. The method according to claim 27, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

37. The method according to claim 27, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said generating step comprises;

accepting an initial business logic design;

generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

importing said business logic design to said initial framework generating step.

38. The method according to claim 27, wherein said step of generating an initial framework comprises:

displaying options for components of said initial framework and accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

storing the generated initial framework.

39. The method according to claim 27, wherein said displaying and accepting steps comprise:

displaying options corresponding to a plurality of object types and accepting selection of at least one of said displayed object type options;

displaying options corresponding to a plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data;

displaying options corresponding to instance management of the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said options corresponding to instance management;

displaying attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said attributes as a primary key and one of said attributes as a secondary key;

displaying the attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of at least one of said attributes for inclusion in a copy helper class; and

displaying options corresponding to home and accepting selection of at least one of said options corresponding to home.

40. The method according to claim 27, wherein said completed framework is executed in a distributed computing environment.

41. A method for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said method comprising:

generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework comprising at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

displaying the generated initial framework;

accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework; and

implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework; and

wherein said displaying and accepting steps comprise;

displaying options corresponding to a plurality of object types and accepting selection of at least one of said displayed object type options;

displaying options corresponding to a plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data;

displaying options corresponding to instance management of the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said options corresponding to instance management;

displaying attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said attributes as a primary key and one of said attributes as a secondary key;

displaying the attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of at least one of said attributes for inclusion in a copy helper class; and

displaying options corresponding to home and accepting selection of at least one of said options corresponding to home.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein said step of generating an initial framework comprises:

differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein said step of displaying an initial framework comprises displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein said step of displaying the generated initial framework comprises:

displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting step.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

46. The method according to claim 42 further comprising storing said completed framework.

47. The method according to claim 46 further comprising generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

48. The method according to claim 47 further comprising:

parsing interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

importing said parsed interface definitions into said storing step.

49. The method according to claim 41, wherein said design is a business logic design.

50. The method according to claim 41, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said generating step comprises;

accepting an initial business logic design;

generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

importing said business logic design to said initial framework generating step.

52. The method according to claim 41, wherein said generating step comprises:

displaying options for components of said initial framework and accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

storing the generated initial framework.

53. The method according to claim 41, wherein said completed framework is executed in a distributed computing environment.

54. A computer program product for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code means embodied in said medium, said computer readable code means comprising;

computer instruction means for generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework corresponding to at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

computer instructions means for displaying the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework;

computer instruction means for implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework;

wherein said generating means further comprises;

computer instruction means for displaying options for types of run-time objects and for selecting selection of at least one of said options for types of run-time objects to be included in the completed framework;

computer instruction means for generating run-time objects from said selected options and a business logic design; and

computer instruction means for storing the run-time objects.

55. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said computer instruction means for generating an initial framework comprises:

computer instruction means for differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

computer instruction means for identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

56. The computer program product according to claim 55, wherein said computer instruction means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises computer instruction means for displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

57. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said computer instruction means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises:

computer instruction means for displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

computer instruction means for displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

computer instruction means for displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting means.

58. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

59. The computer program product according to claim 54 further comprising computer instruction means for generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code being capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

60. The computer program product according to claim 59 further comprising:

computer instruction means for parsing Interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

computer instruction means for importing said parsed interface definitions.

61. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said design is a business logic design.

62. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

63. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said computer instruction means for generating an initial framework comprises;

computer instruction means for accepting an initial business logic design;

computer instruction means for generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

computer instruction means for importing said business logic design to said computer instruction means for generating an initial framework.

64. The system according to claim 54, wherein said computer instruction means for generating an initial framework comprises:

computer instruction means for displaying options for components of said initial framework and accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

computer instruction means for storing the generated initial framework.

65. The computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said displaying and accepting means comprise:

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of object types and accepting selection of at least one of said displayed object type options;

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data;

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to instance management of the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said options corresponding to instance management;

computer instruction means for displaying attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said attributes as a primary key and one of said attributes as a secondary key;

computer instruction means for displaying the attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of at least one of said attributes for inclusion in a copy helper class; and

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to home and accepting selection of at least one of said options corresponding to home.

66. A computer program product for building a framework of objects corresponding to a design for an object oriented application, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code means embodied in said medium, said computer readable code means comprising;

computer instruction means for generating an initial framework corresponding to the design, said initial framework comprising at least one of file objects, module objects, interface objects, methods and attributes;

computer instruction means for displaying the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for accepting changes to a first part of the initial framework; and

computer instruction means for implementing the accepted changes to the first part of the initial framework to obtain a completed framework; and

wherein said displaying and accepting means comprise;

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of object types and accepting selection of at least one of said displayed object type options;

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to a plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said plurality of types of storage for storing persistent data;

computer instruction means for displaying options corresponding to instance management of the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said options corresponding to instance management;

computer instruction means for means for displaying attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of one of said attributes as a primary key and one of said attributes as a secondary key;

computer instruction means for means for displaying the attributes corresponding to the initial framework and accepting selection of at least one of said attributes for inclusion in a copy helper class; and

computer instruction means for means for displaying options corresponding to home and accepting selection of at least one of said options corresponding to home.

67. The computer program product according to claim 66, wherein said generating means comprises:

computer instruction means for differentiating between user methods and framework methods in the initial framework; and

computer instruction means for identifying the first part of the initial framework as requiring completion, a second part of the initial framework as completed, and a third part of the initial framework which may be completed.

68. The computer program product according to claim 67, wherein said computer instruction means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises computer instruction means for displaying the first part of the initial framework and the third part of the initial framework without displaying the second part of the initial framework.

69. The computer program product according to claim 66, wherein said computer instruction means for displaying the generated initial framework comprises:

computer instruction means for displaying a tree view of the generated initial framework, said tree view comprising at least one file object;

computer instruction means for displaying a graph view of the objects in the generated initial framework, said graph view representing relationships between objects in the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for displaying a method view of the methods corresponding to the objects in the generated initial framework; and

computer instruction means for displaying changes to the first part of the initial framework accepted by the accepting computer instruction means.

70. The computer program product according to claim 69, wherein said tree view comprises:

the initial framework; and

a plurality of actions for modifying the at least one file object in said initial framework.

71. The computer program product according to claim 66 further comprising computer instruction means for generating computer program code from the completed framework, said generated computer program code capable of being executed in a distributed computing environment.

72. The computer program product according to claim 71 further comprising:

computer instruction means for parsing interface definitions prior to interactive generation of the initial framework; and

computer instruction means for importing said parsed interface definitions.

73. The computer program product according to claim 66, wherein said design is a business logic design.

74. The computer program product according to claim 66, wherein said objects comprise at least one of a business object, a data object and an application object.

75. The computer program product according to claim 74, wherein said design is a business logic design;

and wherein said generating means comprises;

computer instruction means for accepting an initial business logic design;

computer instruction means for generating a business logic design corresponding to said initial business logic design; and

computer instruction means for importing said business logic design to said initial framework generating means.

76. The computer program product according to claim 66, wherein said generating means comprises:

computer instruction means for displaying options for components of said initial framework and accepting selection of said options to be included in the generated initial framework;

computer instruction means for generating the initial framework from said selected options and the business logic design; and

computer instruction means for storing the generated initial framework.