Software development tool that supports use of a design-time data feed

A method comprising:

• determining, by a software development tool, whether access to a run-time data feed referenced in a software application under development is available for access by the software application under development;
• when determined to be unavailable, outputting, by the software development tool, a prompt requesting a definition of a design-time data feed to be used by the software development tool in place of the referenced run-time data feed;
• and
• storing, by the software development tool, an identification of the design-time data feed, wherein the identification of the design-time data feed comprises a key in a key-value pair, wherein the key-value pair associates the design-time data feed with one or more elements in the software application under development that reference the referenced run-time data feed, and wherein the referenced run-time data feed provides run-time data at run-time and the design-time data feed provides design-time data if the run-time data is not accessible by the software development tool at design-time.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a software development tool executed by a processor, from metadata associated with a software application under development, whether a design-time data feed is defined for at least one run-time data feed referenced in the software application under development;
• and
• for the design-time data feed defined for the at least one run-time data feed referenced in the software application under development, selecting, by the software development tool executed by the processor, the design-time data feed for access in place of the referenced at least one run-time data feed for which the design-time data feed is defined;
• wherein the referenced at least one run-time data feed provides run-time data at run-time and the design-time data feed provides design-time data if the run-time data is not accessible by the software development tool at design-time, wherein accessing the design-time data feed comprises accessing an identification of the design-time data feed, wherein the identification of the design-time data feed comprises a key in a key-value pair, and wherein the key-value pair associates the design-time data feed with one or more elements in the software application under development that reference the referenced at least one run-time data feed.

A system comprising a processor configured to execute program components tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program components comprising:

• a software development environment that comprises a software development tool, wherein said software development tool is configured to:
• determine whether a design-time data feed is defined for at least one run-time data feed referenced in a software application under development;
• and
• access the design-time data feed in place of the referenced at least one run-time data feed for which the design-time data feed is defined;
• wherein the referenced at least one run-time data feed provides run-time data at run-time and the design-time data feed provides design-time data if the run-time data is not accessible by the software development tool at design-time, wherein accessing the design-time data feed comprises accessing an identification of the design-time data feed, wherein the identification of the design-time data feed comprises a key in a key-value pair, and wherein the key-value pair associates the design-time data feed with one or more elements in the software application under development that reference the referenced at least one run-time data feed.