Code generator for applications in distributed object systems

A computer-implemented method of automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system, the method comprising:

• creating a schematic representation of said network application within a visual application builder, said schematic representation arranged to represent one of a client object and a server object, said schematic representation defining a plurality of links among representations of distributed objects;
• loading said schematic representation of said network application into a symbol table and storing portions of said schematic representation as a plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• determining at least one program source file to be generated;
• determining at least one corresponding program template for use in generating said program source file, said program template including references to said plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• and
• combining said plurality of entries in said symbol table with said at least one corresponding program template to generate thereby said at least one program source file, said program source file suitable for being compiled to form a portion of said network application.

A computer-implemented method of loading a schematic representation of a network application into a symbol table thereby assisting in automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into said network application for use in a distributed object computing system, said symbol table being arranged to map a plurality of identifiers to a corresponding plurality of values and said schematic representation including elements that are associated with identifiers that have values, said method comprising:

• loading top-level symbols from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said top-level symbols are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading parts from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said parts are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading connections from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said connections are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading file descriptors indicative of files used in the building of the schematic representation and indicative of program source files to generated;
• loading plugs from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said plugs are mapped to corresponding values;
• and
• loading sockets from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said sockets are mapped to corresponding values.

A computer apparatus for use in automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system, the computer apparatus comprising:

• a processing unit;
• an input/output device coupled to said processing unit;
• a storage device in communication with said processing unit;
• means for receiving a schematic representation of said network application, said schematic representation defining a plurality of links among representations of distributed objects;
• means for loading said schematic representation of said network application into a symbol table and storing portions of said schematic representation as a plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• means for determining at least one program source file to be generated;
• means for determining at least one corresponding program template for use in generating said program source file, said program template including references to said plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• and
• means for combining said plurality of entries in said symbol table with said at least one corresponding program template to generate thereby said at least one program source file, said program source file suitable for being compiled to form a portion of said network application.

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon for automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system, the computer program product comprising computer-readable program code for effecting the following within the computer system:

• receiving a schematic representation of said network application, said schematic representation defining a plurality of links among representations of distributed objects;
• loading said schematic representation of said network application into a symbol table and storing portions of said schematic representation as a plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• determining at least one program source file to be generated;
• determining at least one corresponding program template for use in generating said program source file, said program template including references to said plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• and
• combining said plurality of entries in said symbol table with said at least one corresponding program template to generate thereby said at least one program source file, said program source file suitable for being compiled to form a portion of said network application.

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon for automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system, the computer program product comprising computer-readable program code for effecting the following ›steps! within the computer system:

• creating a schematic representation of said network application within a visual application builder, said schematic representation arranged to represent one of a client object and a server object, said schematic representation defining a plurality of links among representations of distributed objects;
• loading said schematic representation of said network application into a symbol table and storing portions of said schematic representation as a plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• determining at least one program source file to be generated;
• determining at least one corresponding program template for use in generating said program source file, said program template including references to said plurality of entries in said symbol table;
• and
• combining said plurality of entries in said symbol table with said at least one corresponding program template to generate thereby said at least one program source file, said program source file suitable for being compiled to form a portion of said network application.

A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon for loading a schematic representation of a network application into a symbol table thereby assisting in automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into said network application for use in a distributed object computing system, said symbol table being arranged to map a plurality of identifiers to a corresponding plurality of values and said schematic representation including elements that are associated with identifiers that have values, the computer program product comprising computer-readable program code for effecting the following within the computer system:

• loading top-level symbols from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said top-level symbols are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading parts from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said parts are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading connections from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said connections are mapped to corresponding values;
• loading file descriptors indicative of files used in the building of the schematic representation and indicative of program source files to generated;
• loading plugs from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said plugs are mapped to corresponding values;
• and
• loading sockets from the schematic representation into the symbol table such that identifiers associated with said sockets are mapped to corresponding values.