Cross-product refactoring apparatus and method

A computer program product for automatically propagating refactoring changes across multiple applications, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code comprising:

• computer-useable program code to receive a primary change for an artifact managed by a first application;
• computer-useable program code to calculate referencing changes necessitated by the primary change for artifacts managed by the first application;
• computer-useable program code to generate a difference notification readable by a second application, the difference notification documenting the primary and referencing changes of the first application;
• and
• computer-useable program code to transmit the difference notification to the second application, thereby enabling the second application to implement refactoring changes that are consistent with the primary and referencing changes in the difference notification.

An apparatus for automatically propagating refactoring changes across multiple applications, the apparatus comprising:

• an input module for receiving a primary change for an artifact managed by a first application;
• a referencing module to calculate referencing changes necessitated by the primary change for artifacts managed by the first application;
• a notification generation module to generate a difference notification readable by a second application, the difference notification documenting the primary and referencing changes in the first application;
• a transmission module to transmit the difference notification to the second application, thereby enabling the second application to implement refactoring changes that are consistent with the primary and referencing changes documented in the difference notification.