Customizing business logic and data sources by modifying methods defined within an API

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for modifying a software package by customizing an implementation of a target method defined within an application programming interface for the software package, the method comprising:

• receiving additional code to be integrated into the target method defined within the application programming interface;
• wherein the application programming interface defines a plurality of methods that operate on objects associated with the software package;
• receiving a command to integrate the additional code into the target method;
• wherein the command is received through a pre-defined code integration method that already exists within the application programming interface and is used for integrating additional code into the target method within the application programming interface;
• wherein the integrating of the additional code into the target method includes a step selected from a group consisting of:
• (i) adding pre-processing code before default code for the target method, (ii) adding post-processing code after the default code for the target method, and (iii) adding code to specify a new data source for the target method;
• and
• linking the additional code into the target method within the application programming interface so that the additional code is executed when the target method is invoked.

A apparatus that facilitates modifying a software package by customizing an implementation for a target method defined within an application programming interface for the software package, comprising:

• the software package;
• the application programming interface, within the software package, that defines a plurality of methods that operate on objects associated with the software package;
• a pre-defined code integration method, already existing within the application programming interface, wherein the pre-defined code is configured to integrate additional code into a target method within the application programming interface;
• and
• a linking mechanism, within the predefined code integration method, that is configured to link the additional code into the target method within the application programming interface so that the additional code is executed when the target method is invoked;
• wherein the pre-defined code that integrates the additional code into the target method includes at least one of:
• (i) code for adding pre-processing code before default code for the target method, (ii) code for adding post-processing code after the default code for the target method, and (iii) code for adding code to specify a new data source for the target method.