Method to simplify developing software having localization

A method for developing software, the method comprising:

• writing code for software having one or more numeric property variables stored therein;
• storing a set of property display patterns on a tangible computer-readable medium, each property display pattern corresponding to a numeric property variable of the one or more numeric property variables, wherein each property display pattern contains a unit of measure and a reference to a conversion function;
• and
• writing code for software to display a numeric property variable of the one or more numeric property variables, the code being operative to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
• read from the set of property display patterns off the tangible computer-readable medium;
• extract a property display pattern corresponding to the particular numeric property variable;
• extract the unit of measure and a reference to the conversion function from the extracted property display pattern;
• generate a converted numeric property value by calling the referenced conversion function to perform a unit conversion on the numeric property variable to convert from an internal unit of measure into a display unit of measure;
• and
• display the converted numeric property value and the extracted unit of measure to a user.