Method and system for developing source code and displaying linked elements found within the source code
View Patent ↗Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that allows a developer to determine which elements in source code are at most a given number of links away from a selected element. Moreover, the software development tool allows the developer to specify the types of links connecting the elements from the selected element.
1. A method in a data processing system stored on a computer readable medium and executing on a computer for developing source code having a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: converting the source code into a language-neutral representation; using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of the plurality of elements; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; receiving an indication of a type of link; determining from the language-neutral representation which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type and within the indicated distance; and displaying the determined elements.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises an association.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
19. A method in a data processing system stored on a computer readable medium and executing on a computer for developing source code having a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; receiving an indication of a type of link; and determining which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type and within the indicated distance.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of displaying the determined elements.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
30. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
31. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises an association.
32. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
33. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
34. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
35. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
36. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
37. The method of claim 19 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
38. A method in a data processing system stored on a computer readable medium and executing on a computer for developing source code having a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; and determining which of the plurality of elements is within the indicated distance from the selected element.
39. The method of claim 38 , further comprising the step of displaying the determined elements.
40. The method of claim 38 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
41. The method of claim 38 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
42. The method of claim 38 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
43. The method of claim 38 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
44. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
45. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
46. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
47. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
48. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
49. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
50. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises an association.
51. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
52. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
53. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
54. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
55. The method of claim 38 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
56. The method of claim 38 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
57. A method in a data processing system stored on a computer readable medium and executing on a computer for developing source code having a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a type of link; receiving an indication of a portion of the source code to be searched for said type of link; and determining which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type.
58. The method of claim 57 , farther comprising the step of displaying the determined elements.
59. The method of claim 57 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
60. The method of claim 57 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
61. The method of claim 57 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
62. The method of claim 57 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
63. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
64. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
65. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
66. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
67. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
68. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
69. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises an association.
70. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
71. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
72. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
73. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
74. The method of claim 57 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
75. The method of claim 57 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
76. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code comprising a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: converting the source code into a language-neutral representation; using the language-neutral representation to display a graphical representation of the plurality of elements; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; receiving an indication of a type of link; determining from the language-neutral representation which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type and within the indicated distance; and displaying the determined elements.
77. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
78. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
79. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
80. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
81. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
82. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
83. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
84. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
85. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
86. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
87. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises an association.
88. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
89. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
90. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
91. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
92. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
93. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
94. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code comprising a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; receiving an indication of a type of link; and determining which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type and within the indicated distance.
95. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the determined elements.
96. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
97. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
98. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
99. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
100. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
101. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
102. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
103. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
104. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
105. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
106. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises an association.
107. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
108. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
109. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
110. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
111. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
112. The computer-readable medium of claim 94 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
113. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code comprising a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a distance; and determining which of the plurality of elements is within the indicated distance from the selected element.
114. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the determined elements.
115. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
116. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
117. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
118. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
119. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
120. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
121. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
122. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
123. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
124. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
125. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises an association.
126. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
127. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
128. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
129. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
130. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
131. The computer-readable medium of claim 113 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
132. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having source code comprising a plurality of elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; receiving an indication of a type of link; receiving an indication of a portion of the source code; to be searched for said type of link; and determining which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type.
133. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the determined elements.
134. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
135. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
136. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
137. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
138. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
139. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
140. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
141. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
142. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
143. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
144. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises an association.
145. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
146. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
147. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
148. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
149. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
150. The computer-readable medium of claim 132 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
151. A data processing system executing on a computer comprising: a secondary storage device further comprising source code having a plurality of elements; a memory device further comprising a program that receives a selection of one of the plurality of elements, that receives an indication of a distance, that receives an indication of a type of link, and that determines which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type and within the indicated distance; and a processor for running the program.
152. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the program further displays the determined elements.
153. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the selected element comprises a class.
154. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the determined element comprises a class.
155. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the selected element comprises an interface.
156. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the determined element comprises an interface.
157. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a reference.
158. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a super class.
159. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a sub class.
160. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a super interface.
161. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a sub interface.
162. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises an implemented interface.
163. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises an association.
164. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a dependency.
165. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises an aggregation.
166. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises a composition.
167. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises an inheritance.
168. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the type comprises an implementation.
169. The data processing system of claim 151 , wherein the selected element and the examined element are in a package.
170. A system for developing source code stored on a computer readable medium and executing on a computer having a plurality of elements, the system comprising: means for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of elements; means for receiving an indication of a type of link; means for receiving an indication of a portion of the source code to be searched for said type of link; and means for determining which of the plurality of elements is connected to the selected element via a link of the indicated type.