Shortcut framework for supporting flexible user interface features

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining, by a shortcut framework associated with a graphical user interface, a shortcut event, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of components in a hierarchical arrangement;
• identifying a shortcut action for the shortcut event, wherein the shortcut action specifies a shortcut action identifier for a shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface;
• determining that the shortcut action is a declarative shortcut action;
• responsive to determining that the shortcut action is a declarative shortcut action, dispatching the shortcut action identifier to perform the shortcut function;
• obtaining, by the shortcut framework, an instance of an additional shortcut event;
• determining that the additional shortcut event is not identified with a declarative shortcut action;
• responsive to determining that the additional shortcut event is not identified with a declarative shortcut action, identifying a target component of the graphical user interface by (i) determining that a focus on the graphical user interface is on the target component of the plurality of components, (ii) determining that the target component matches the additional shortcut event, and (iii) responsive to determining that the target component matches the additional shortcut event, identifying the target component;
• identifying an additional shortcut action for the additional shortcut event, wherein the additional shortcut action specifies an additional shortcut action identifier for an additional shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface;
• and
• dispatching the additional shortcut action identifier to the target component to cause the target component to perform the additional shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory, containing program instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• obtaining, by a shortcut framework associated with a graphical user interface, a shortcut event, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of components in a hierarchical arrangement;
• identifying a shortcut action for the shortcut event, wherein the shortcut action specifies a shortcut action identifier for a shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface;
• determining that the shortcut action is a declarative shortcut action;
• responsive to determining that the shortcut action is a declarative shortcut action, dispatching the shortcut action identifier to perform the shortcut function;
• obtaining, by the shortcut framework, an instance of an additional shortcut event;
• determining that the additional shortcut event is not identified with a declarative shortcut action;
• responsive to determining that the additional shortcut event is not identified with a declarative shortcut action, identifying a target component of the graphical user interface by (i) determining that a focus on the graphical user interface is on the target component of the plurality of components, (ii) determining that the target component matches the additional shortcut event, and (iii) responsive to determining that the target component matches the additional shortcut event, identifying the target component;
• identifying an additional shortcut action for the additional shortcut event, wherein the additional shortcut action specifies an additional shortcut action identifier for an additional shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface;
• and
• dispatching the additional shortcut action identifier to the target component to cause the target component to perform the additional shortcut function that modifies the graphical user interface.