Common Framework for Definition, Generation, and Management of Metadata Runtime-Loads

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying a metadata associated with an application, wherein the metadata is configured to enable loading during a runtime of the application and is stored on at least one node in a metadata repository;

generating, based on the identified metadata, a runtime-loading structure for loading the metadata during the runtime of the application, the runtime-loading structure containing an identification of the at least one node storing the identified metadata in the metadata repository; and,

loading, based on the generated runtime-loading structure, the identified metadata during the runtime of the application;

wherein at least one of the identifying, the generating, and the loading is performed on at least one processor.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating further comprises

determining at least one attribute of the identified metadata; and

generating, using the determined attribute, an access path for accessing the identified metadata during runtime of the application.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the generation of the access path is performed on a metadata level of the metadata repository.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the loading further comprises

retrieving the identified metadata associated with the at least one node and at least one data type of the identified metadata; and

loading, using the generated access path, the identified metadata and retrieved associated metadata during runtime of the application.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the loading further comprises

determining whether a runtime-loading structure for loading the metadata during runtime of the application has been previously generated;

loading, using the previously generated runtime loading structure, the identified metadata during runtime of the application;

generating another runtime-loading structure for loading the identified metadata and loading the identified metadata during runtime of the application when the runtime-loading structure has not been previously generated.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metadata is loaded based on at least one metadata model stored in the metadata repository.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the generating further comprises

generating, based on the at least one metadata model, the runtime-loading structure on a meta-metadata level of the metadata repository; and

preparing, based on the runtime-loading structure, the identified metadata stored on a metadata level of the metadata repository for loading during runtime of the application.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the loading further comprises loading the identified metadata during a design-time of the application.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the loading of the identified metadata is optimized for performance during the runtime of the application.

10 . A computer-program product comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a metadata associated with an application, wherein the metadata is configured to enable loading during a runtime of the application and is stored on at least one node in a metadata repository;

generating, based on the identified metadata, a runtime-loading structure for loading the metadata during the runtime of the application, the runtime-loading structure containing an identification of the at least one node storing the identified metadata in the metadata repository; and,

loading, based on the generated runtime-loading structure, the identified metadata during the runtime of the application.

11 . The computer-program product according to claim 10 , wherein the generating further comprises

determining at least one attribute of the identified metadata; and

generating, using the determined attribute, an access path for accessing the identified metadata during runtime of the application.

12 . The computer-program product according to claim 11 , wherein the generation of the access path is performed on a metadata level of the metadata repository.

13 . The computer-program product according to claim 12 , wherein the loading further comprises

retrieving the identified metadata associated with the at least one node and at least one data type of the identified metadata; and

loading, using the generated access path, the identified metadata and retrieved associated metadata during runtime of the application.

14 . The computer-program product according to claim 10 , wherein the loading further comprises

determining whether a runtime-loading structure for loading the metadata during runtime of the application has been previously generated;

loading, using the previously generated runtime loading structure, the identified metadata during runtime of the application;

generating another runtime-loading structure for loading the identified metadata and loading the identified metadata during runtime of the application when the runtime-loading structure has not been previously generated.

15 . The computer-program product according to claim 10 , wherein the metadata is loaded based on at least one metadata model stored in the metadata repository.

16 . The computer-program product according to claim 15 , wherein the generating further comprises

generating, based on the at least one metadata model, the runtime-loading structure on a meta-metadata level of the metadata repository; and

preparing, based on the runtime-loading structure, the identified metadata stored on a metadata level of the metadata repository for loading during runtime of the application.

17 . The computer-program product according to claim 10 , wherein the loading further comprises loading the identified metadata during a design-time of the application.

18 . The computer-program product according to claim 10 , wherein the loading of the identified metadata is optimized for performance during the runtime of the application.

19 . A system comprising:

at least one programmable processor; and

a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a metadata associated with an application, wherein the metadata is configured to enable loading during a runtime of the application and is stored on at least one node in a metadata repository;

generating, based on the identified metadata, a runtime-loading structure for loading the metadata during the runtime of the application, the runtime-loading structure containing an identification of the at least one node storing the identified metadata in the metadata repository; and,

loading, based on the generated runtime-loading structure, the identified metadata during the runtime of the application.

20 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein the generating further comprises

determining at least one attribute of the identified metadata; and

generating, using the determined attribute, an access path for accessing the identified metadata during runtime of the application.