System and method for metadata-driven external interface generation of application programming interfaces

A system, comprising:

• a computer including a processor, and a knowledge source that stores metadata associated with creating and processing data flows associated with software applications, including functional data types;
• and
• an interface that receives a definition of additional metadata for use in creating and processing the data flows;
• wherein the system processes the additional metadata received via the interface, to identify one or more classification, semantic action, pattern, or service defined by the received metadata;
• wherein the system stores the metadata received via the interface, in the knowledge source, to update the knowledge source with additional functional data types, for use with a design-time system to:
• identify patterns in a data flow associated with a software application, based on the updated knowledge source including additional functional data types;
• and
• provide recommendations for modifying the data flow associated with the software application for use with one or more input datasets and output datasets.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform a method comprising:

• providing, at a computer including a processor, a knowledge source that stores metadata associated with creating and processing data flows associated with software applications, including functional data types;
• receiving, via an interface, a definition of additional metadata for use in creating and processing the data flows;
• processing the additional metadata received via the interface, to identify one or more classification, semantic action, pattern, or service defined by the received metadata;
• and
• storing the metadata received via the interface, in the knowledge source, to update the knowledge source with additional functional data types, for use with a design-time system to:
• identify patterns in a data flow associated with a software application, based on the updated knowledge source including additional functional data types;
• and
• provide recommendations for modifying the data flow associated with the software application for use with one or more input datasets and output datasets.