Method and system to automatically generate software code

1. A method to automatically generate software for an object to relational mapping system, the method including:

reading class information respectively associated with a plurality of classes;

reading meta-data based on the class information; and

automatically generating the plurality of classes based on the meta-data, the plurality of classes used in the object to relational mapping system to enable an application program to access data that is persistently stored in a database and accessed by the application program from an instance of a data object class that is included in the plurality of classes,

the plurality of classes including a test class to test whether the instance of the data object class operates as designed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation includes any one of a group of operations including a read operation, an update operation, an insert operation, and a delete operation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a first class that is utilized to create the instance of the data object class.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that includes an SQL statement that includes at least one tag for substitution of a value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a third class that is utilized as an interface for the instance of the data object class.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a fourth class that is utilized to prevent direct access to data that is stored in the instance of the data object class.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines a plurality of read sets that respectively define a plurality of columns that are requested from the database and populated to the instance of the data object class.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines at least one of a plurality of update sets and insert sets that determine attributes that are persisted to the database from the data object class.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines hints.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class that includes meta-data to access a subobject.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class that supports hierarchical relationships between data object types.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a fourth class to automatically retrieve data, in a single request, from the database to construct at least one data object in an object graph.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class to perform at least one operation from a group of operations including an update operation, an insert operation, a delete operation for at least one data object in an object graph in a single database request.

14. A system to automatically generate software for an object to relational mapping system, the system including:

at least one machine including:

a read module executable by the machine to read class information respectively associated with a plurality of classes, the read module to read meta-data based on the class information; and

a class generator module executable by the machine to automatically generate the plurality of classes based on the meta-data, the plurality of classes to be used in the object to relational mapping system to enable an application program to access data that is persistently stored in a database and accessed by the application program from an instance of a data object class that is included in the plurality of classes,

the plurality of classes including a test class that is utilized to test whether the instance of the data object class operates as designed.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operation includes any one of a group of operations including a read operation, an update operation, an insert operation, and a delete operation.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a first class that is utilized to create the instance of the data object class.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that includes an SQL statement that includes at least one tag for substitution of a value.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a third class that is utilized as an interface for the instance of the data object class.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a fourth class that is utilized to prevent direct access to data that is stored in the instance of the data object class.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines a plurality of read sets that each determine a plurality of columns that are requested from the database and populated to the instance of the data object class.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines at least one of a plurality of update sets and insert sets that determine attributes that are persisted to the database from the data object class.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a second class that defines a plurality of sets of hints.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class that includes meta-data to access a subobject.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class that supports hierarchical relationships between data object types.

25. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes a fourth class to automatically retrieve data, in a single request, from the database to construct at least one data object in an object graph.

26. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of classes includes at least one class to perform at least one operation from a group of operations including an update operation, an insert operation, a delete operation for at least one data object in an object graph in a single database request.

27. A machine readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

read class information respectively associated with a plurality of classes;

read meta-data based on the class information; and

automatically generate the plurality of classes based on the meta-data, the plurality of classes to be used in the object to relational mapping system to enable an application program to access data that is persistently stored in a database and accessed by the application program from an instance of a data object class that is included in the plurality of classes,

the plurality of classes including a test class that is utilized to test whether the instance of the data object class operates as designed.

28. A system to automatically generate software for an object to relational mapping system, the system including:

a first means for reading class information respectively associated with a plurality of classes, the first means for reading meta-data based on the class information; and

a second means for automatically generating the plurality of classes based on the meta-data, the plurality of classes to be used in the object to relational mapping system to enable an application program to access data that is persistently stored in a database and accessed by the application program from an instance of a data object class that is included in the plurality of classes, the plurality of classes includes a test class that is utilized to test whether the instance of the data object class operates as designed.