Using behavioral annotations in source code to build middleware applications

A program product for specifying a desired feature in a source code by embedding a behavior tag in the source code and automatically selecting an implementation technology based on the desired feature associated with the behavior tag, the program product comprising:

• a memory;
• wherein the memory comprises instructions for a computer to perform steps comprising:
• determining whether the implementation technology contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag;
• and
• responsive to the determination that the implementation technology contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag, using the implementation technology to execute the source code section associated with the behavior tag.

An apparatus for specifying a desired feature in a source code by embedding a behavior tag in the source code and automatically selecting an implementation technology based on the desired feature associated with the behavior tag, the apparatus comprising:

• means for accepting the source code containing the behavior tag;
• means for determining whether the implementation technology contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag;
• responsive to the determination that the implementation technology does not contain the desired feature defined by the behavior tag, means for selecting a new implementation technology and repeating the above step;
• responsive to the determination that the implementation technology contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag, means for using the implementation technology to execute the source code section associated with the behavior tag;
• wherein the deployment program uses a behavior tag definition to determine whether the implementation technology contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag;
• wherein the implementation technology is one of a plurality of implementation technologies in an implementation technology preference list;
• wherein the implementation technology that contains the desired feature defined by the behavior tag and that has the highest preference is used to execute the source code section associated with the behavior tag;
• a configuration program;
• wherein the configuration program allows a user to create and modify the behavior tag in the behavior tag definition;
• and
• wherein the configuration program allows a user to create and modify the implementation technology preference in the implementation technology preference list.