Developing applications online
A method and apparatus for providing a network based operating system for mobile clients is disclosed. Services may be developed that can be used to support different client devices with different capabilities. The services provide output with multiple variations based on different devices, and an intermediary selects the variation best suited for the requesting device. An online software development system is provided to allow services to create, edit, test, and deploy applications at an intermediary using only a browser at the client end. Services may also be provided that can be accessed and referred to by other services, thereby facilitating the combining of different services. Services may also store and access data at an intermediary using variables and a mapping of the stored data to the variables. Data stored at the intermediary may be used to allow an end user to return to a previously accessed service.
1. A method for developing applications online, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
receiving a first request from a first user using a first browser running on a first client;
in response to said first request, providing a first electronic document that generates a first interface when said first electronic document is displayed by said first browser, wherein said first interface includes a first edit field for said first user to type in application code;
receiving said application code that is typed in said first edit field by said first user, wherein said application code is submitted by said first interface in response to said first user selecting a first object included in said first interface; and
storing said application code at a server that is remote from said first client, wherein said application code can be executed from said server in response to a first service request from a first end user.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented step of:
retrieving existing application code from said server in response to a second request from a second user using a second browser running on a second client;
providing a second electronic document that generates a second interface when said second electronic document is displayed by said second browser, wherein said second interface includes a second edit field that displays said existing application code that said second user can edit by typing;
receiving modified existing application code that is submitted by said second interface in response to said second user selecting a second object included in said second interface; and
storing said modified existing application code at said server that is remote from said second client, wherein said modified existing application code can be executed from said server in response to a second service request from a second end user.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented step of:
retrieving existing application code from said server in response to a second request from a second user using a second browser running on a second client;
providing a second electronic document that generates a second interface when said second electronic document is displayed by said second browser, wherein said second interface includes a second edit field that displays said existing application code; and
deleting said existing application code in response to said second user selecting a second object included in said second interface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said server is associated with an intermediary and wherein said first electronic document is provided by said intermediary.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said server is associated with a service, wherein said first electronic document is provided by an intermediary, and wherein said first service request is received by said intermediary.
6. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for developing applications online, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
receiving a first request from a first user using a first browser running on a first client;
in response to said first request, providing a first electronic document that generates a first interface when said first electronic document is displayed by said first browser, wherein said first interface includes a first edit field for said first user to type in application code;
receiving said application code that is typed in said first edit field by said first user, wherein said application code is submitted by said first interface in response to said first user selecting a first object included in said first interface; and
storing said application code at a server that is remote from said first client, wherein said application code can be executed from said server in response to a first service request from a first end user.
7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
retrieving existing application code from said server in response to a second request from a second user using a second browser running on a second client;
providing a second electronic document that generates a second interface when said second electronic document is displayed by said second browser, wherein said second interface includes a second edit field that displays said existing application code that said second user can edit by typing;
receiving modified existing application code that is submitted by said second interface in response to said second user selecting a second object included in said second interface; and
storing said modified existing application code at said server that is remote from said second client, wherein said modified existing application code can be executed from said server in response to a second service request from a second end user.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
retrieving existing application code from said server in response to a second request from a second user using a second browser running on a second client;
providing a second electronic document that generates a second interface when said second electronic document is displayed by said second browser, wherein said second interface includes a second edit field that displays said existing application code; and
deleting said existing application code in response to said second user selecting a second object included in said second interface.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein said server is associated with an intermediary and wherein said first electronic document is provided by said intermediary.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein said server is associated with a service, wherein said first electronic document is provided by an intermediary, and wherein said first service request is received by said intermediary.