Software development tool with instant updating and simultaneous view of graphical and a textual display of source code

1. A method in a data processing system for developing source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the language of the source code of the chosen file;

converting the source code from the language into a language-neutral representation;

using the language-neutral representation to display the source code in the language of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project, wherein the display of the source code in the language of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

converting the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification;

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram, and a deployment diagram.

8. A method in a data processing system for developing source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the language of the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the source code of the chosen file in the language; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project, wherein the display of the source code in the of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the modified source code of the chosen file; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

15. A method in a data processing system for developing source code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification of a selected language for the source code;

creating a file to store the source code in the selected language;

converting the source code from the selected language into a language-neutral representation;

using the language-neutral representation to display the source code in the language of the file; and

using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of the file, wherein the display of the source code in the language of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

converting the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification;

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

22. A method in a data processing system for developing source code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification of a selected language for the source code;

creating a file to store the source code in the selected language;

displaying the source code of the file in the selected language; and

displaying a graphical representation of the file, wherein the display of the source code of the file in the selected language and the display of the graphical representation the file are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the modified source code of the chosen file; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the language of the source code of the chosen file;

converting the source code from the language into a language-neutral representation;

using the language-neutral representation to display the source code of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project, wherein the display of the source code of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

converting the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification;

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code, wherein the display of the modified source code of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

36. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the language of the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the source code of the chosen file; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project, wherein the display of the source code of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the modified source code of the chosen file; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

43. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method to develop source code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification of a selected language for the source code;

creating a file to store the source code in the selected language;

converting the source code into a language-neutral representation;

using the language-neutral representation to display the source code of the file; and

using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of the file, wherein the display of the source code of the file and the display of the graphical representation of the file are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

converting the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification;

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file; and

using the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

50. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method to develop source code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication identification of a selected language for the source code;

creating a file to store the source code in the selected language;

displaying the source code of the file; and

displaying a graphical representation of the file, wherein the display of the source code of the file and the display of the graphical representation of the file are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

receiving a modification to the source code of the chosen file;

displaying the modified source code of the chosen file; and

displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 52 , wherein the computer system further performs the steps of:

detecting a syntax error in the modified source code; and

providing an error message regarding the syntax error.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 52 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the source code.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 52 , wherein the modification to the source code is received from the display of the graphical representation.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

57. A data processing system comprising:

a secondary storage device further comprising source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language;

a memory device further comprising a program that determines the language of the source code of the chosen file, that converts the source code into a language-neutral representation, that uses the language-neutral representation to display the source code of the chosen file, and that uses the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project; and

a processor for running the program, wherein the display of the source code of the chosen file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one view is capable of being automatically reflected in the other view.

58. The data processing system of claim 57 , wherein the memory device further comprises a transient meta model, wherein said transient meta model stores the language-neutral representation of the source code.

59. The data processing system of claim 57 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

60. The data processing system of claim 57 , wherein the program further receives a modification to the source code of the chosen file, converts the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification, uses the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file, and uses the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

61. The data processing system of claim 60 , wherein the program further detects a syntax error in the modified source code, and provides an error message regarding the syntax error.

62. The data processing system of claim 57 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

63. A data processing system comprising:

a memory device further comprising a program that receives an in identification of a selected language for source code, that creates a file to store the source code in the selected language, that converts the source code into a language-neutral representation, that uses the language-neutral representation to display the source code of the file, and that uses the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of the file; and

a processor for running the program,

wherein the display of the source code of the file and the display of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.

64. The data processing system of claim 63 , wherein the memory device further comprises a transient meta model, wherein said transient meta model stores the language-neutral representation of the source code.

65. The data processing system of claim 63 , wherein the source code and the graphical representation are displayed simultaneously.

66. The data processing system of claim 63 , wherein the program further receives a modification to the source code of the chosen file, converts the modification into a language-neutral representation of the modification, uses the language-neutral representation of the modification to display the modified source code of the chosen file, and uses the language-neutral representation of the modification to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project with the modified source code.

67. The data processing system of claim 66 , wherein the program further detects a syntax error in the modified source code, and provides an error message regarding the syntax error.

68. The data processing system of claim 63 , wherein the graphical representation is one of the group consisting of a class diagram, a use case diagram, a sequence diagram, a collaboration diagram, a state transition diagram, an activity diagram, a package diagram, a component diagram and a deployment diagram.

69. A system for developing source code in a project wherein the project comprises a plurality of files and the source code of a chosen one of the plurality of files is written in a language, the system comprising:

means for determining the language of the source code of the chosen file;

means for displaying the source code of the chosen file; and

means for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of the project,

wherein the means for displaying the source code of the chosen file and the means for displaying of the graphical representation of at least a portion of the project are synchronized so that a modification in one is automatically reflected in the other.