Smart controls for user interface design and implementation

A computer program product, the computer program product being tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause at least one computing device to:

• receive a request for rendering of a graphical user interface (GUI) control within a GUI;
• retrieve an annotated template corresponding to the control;
• read, from the annotated template, at least one annotation providing a linking path to metadata of an application object;
• parameterize the control including using the linking path to select values of the application object;
• and
• render the parameterized control within the GUI, including the selected values of the application object.

A method comprising:

• receiving a template request for a template for a control of a graphical user interface (GUI);
• receiving an application object request for an application object;
• determining metadata characterizing the application object;
• and
• storing the control in conjunction with at least one annotation linking the template to the metadata.