Optimizing the handling of source code requests between a software configuration management (SCM) system and a software integrated development environment (IDE) using projected ancillary data

A method for improving source code access in a software integrated development environment (IDE) using projected ancillary data comprising:

• receiving a response message from a software configuration management (SCM) system for a source code file request by a software integrated development environment (IDE), wherein the response message contains a requested source code file and at least one projected ancillary data item for the requested source code file, wherein the at least one projected ancillary data item comprises at least one of a supplementary source code file and a revision update, wherein when the projected ancillary data is a supplementary source code file, the supplementary source code file being projected by:
• accessing a plurality of projection settings, wherein the plurality of projection settings define criteria for projecting at least one supplementary source code file,
• identifying the at least one supplementary source code file based upon the plurality of projection settings for the requested source code file, and
• retrieving the at least one identified supplementary source code file from a source code repository, and
• wherein when the projected ancillary data being projected is a revision update, the revision update is projected by:
• ascertaining a usage context for the software IDE, wherein the usage context details source code files and associated revision information currently in use by the software IDE,
• identifying an existence of at least one newer revision within the SCM system for the source code files in use by the software IDE, and
• for each identified newer revision, generating the revision update for the source code file, wherein the revision update defines at least one difference between the newer revision in the SCM system and the source code file in use by the software IDE;
• storing the at least one projected ancillary data item in a memory storage area local to the software IDE;
• when the software IDE requires an additional source code file, examining the at least one stored projected ancillary data item for a match to the additional source code file;
• and
• when a match is found, providing the matching stored ancillary data item to the software IDE from the memory storage area.

A software configuration management system that improves source code access for a software integrated development environment (IDE), the software configuration management system stored in a computer memory comprising:

• a source code request handling optimizer configured to provide a software integrated development environment (IDE) with at least one projected ancillary data item from a software configuration management (SCM) system, wherein the at least one projected ancillary data item is related to a source code file requested by the software IDE, and, wherein the at least one projected ancillary data item comprises at least one of a supplementary source code file and a revision update;
• the source code request handling optimizer configured to append the ancillary data to a response message of the SCM system that corresponds to the source code request, wherein the response message contains the requested source code file;
• wherein when the at least on projected ancillary data item comprises a supplementary source code file, the source code request handling optimizer further comprises:
• a plurality of projection settings configured to define criteria for projecting at least one supplementary source code file, and a source code projection engine configured to utilize the plurality of projection settings to identify at least one supplementary source code file, and
• wherein when the at least on projected ancillary data item comprises a revision update, the source code request handling optimizer further comprises:
• a revision update generator configured to ascertain a usage context for the software IDE, wherein the usage context details source code files and associated revision information currently in use by the software IDE, to identify an existence of at least one newer revision within the SCM system for the source code files in use by the software IDE, and to generate the revision update for a source code file being used by the software IDE, wherein the revision update contains at least one difference between a revision of the source code file being used by the software IDE and a newer revision of the source code file contained within the SCM system.