Add-ins dynamically extending display targets and business-logic programming model

A method performed by a client computer having a memory and a processor, the method comprising:

• generating by the processor a request for display target-specific code implementing behavior of an Add-in, the Add-in for extending business logic of a business application;
• sending to another computer from the client computer the request for the display target-specific code implementing behavior of the Add-in;
• receiving from the other computer a response to the request, the response including the display target-specific code that implements behavior of the Add-in that is specific to a display target;
• invoking by a client-side component of the business application the display target-specific code;
• and
• under control of the invoked display target-specific code,
• sending to the other computer a message generated by the invoked display target-specific code;
• and
• in response to sending the message, receiving from the other computer a response sent using a common interface of the Add-in.

A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions for controlling a client to extend a business application, by a method comprising:

• generating a request for an implementation of an Add-in that extends behavior of the business application, the implementation providing code that is specific to a display target of the client;
• sending to a server from the client the generated request for the implementation;
• receiving from the server a response to the request that includes the implementation of the Add-in that is specific to the display target;
• and
• executing at the client the implementation of the Add-in to extend the behavior of the business application in a manner that is specific to the display target
• wherein the Add-in includes a plurality of implementations, each implementation including display target-specific code that implements behavior of the Add-in that is specific to a different display target and
• wherein each implementation provides a common interface for interacting with business logic of the business application.

A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions for controlling a client to extend a business application, by a method comprising:

• generating a request for an implementation of an Add-in that extends behavior of the business application, the implementation providing code that is specific to a display target of the client;
• sending to a server from the client the generated request for the implementation;
• receiving from the server a response to the request that includes the implementation of the Add-in that is specific to the display target;
• executing at the client the implementation of the Add-in to extend the behavior of the business application in a manner that is specific to the display target;
• and
• under control of the executing implementation,
• sending to the server a message generated by the implementation;
• and
• in response to sending the message, receiving from the server a response sent using a common interface of the Add-in.

A computing device comprising:

• a memory storing computer-executable instructions of:
• a component that generates a request for an implementation of an Add-in that extends behavior of a business application, the implementation providing code that is specific to a display target of a client, the business application having a client-side component and a server-side component;
• a component that sends to a server the generated request for the implementation;
• a component that receives from the server a response to the request that includes the implementation of the Add-in;
• and
• a component that executes the implementation of the Add-in to extend the behavior of the business application in a manner that is specific to the display target;
• and
• wherein the Add-in includes a plurality of implementations, each implementation including display target-specific code that implements behavior of the Add-in that is specific to a different display target and
• wherein each implementation provides a common interface for interacting with business logic of the business application;
• and
• a processor that executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory.

A computing device comprising:

• a memory storing computer-executable instructions of:
• a component that generates a request for an implementation of an Add-in that extends behavior of a business application, the implementation providing code that is specific to a display target of a client, the business application having a client-side component and a server-side component;
• a component that sends to a server the generated request for the implementation;
• a component that receives from the server a response to the request that includes the implementation of the Add-in, the implementation providing code that is specific to one or more characteristics of the display target;
• a component that executes the implementation of the Add-in to extend the behavior of a user interface of the business application in a manner that is dependent on one or more characteristics of the display target;
• and
• a component that, under control of the executing implementation, sends to the server-side component a message generated by the implementation;
• and in response to sending the message, receives from the server-side component a response sent using a common interface of the Add-in;
• and
• a processor that executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory.