Concurrent execution of a computer software application along multiple decision paths
View Patent ↗Managing the execution of a computer software application by duplicating a primary instance of a computer software application during its execution in a primary execution context to create multiple duplicate instances of the computer software application in corresponding duplicate execution contexts, and effecting a selection of a different candidate subset of predefined elements for each of the duplicate instances.
1. A method for managing execution of a computer software application, comprising:
identifying, during execution of a primary instance of the computer software application, the primary instance reaching an execution point that produces a plurality of predefined options for a user;
generating, prior to selection by the user of one of the predefined options and based upon the execution point being reached, a plurality of duplicate instances of the primary instance;
assigning, respectively, execution paths corresponding to the plurality of the predefined options to each of the plurality of duplicate instances;
executing, prior to the selection by the user of the one predefined option, the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths;
presenting, after beginning the executing the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths; the plurality of the predefined options to the user;
determining that the one predefined option presented to the user has been selected by the user; and
terminating each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
gathering information associated with the execution of the each of the plurality of duplicate instances; and
presenting a recommendation, prior to the one predefined option being selected and based upon the gathered information, as to the plurality of the predefined options.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the recommendation regards an installation option.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the computer software application is an installation program.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein
the installation program is executing within a virtual machine, and
each of the plurality of duplicate instances execute within respective cloned virtual machines.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically eliminating, as a predefined option to be presented to the user, the predefined option corresponding to one of the plurality of duplicate instances that resulted in a failed operation.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the primary instance is terminated upon each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option being terminated.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option are configured to self-terminate based upon the one predefined option being selected.
9. A computer hardware system configured to manage managing execution of a computer software application, comprising:
a hardware processor configured to initiate the following operations:
identifying, during execution of a primary instance of the computer software application, the primary instance reaching an execution point that produces a plurality of predefined options for a user;
generating, prior to selection by the user of one of the predefined options and based upon the execution point being reached, a plurality of duplicate instances of the primary instance;
assigning, respectively, execution paths corresponding to the plurality of the predefined options to each of the plurality of duplicate instances;
executing, prior to the selection by the user of the one predefined option, the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths;
presenting, after beginning the executing the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths; the plurality of the predefined options to the user;
determining that the one predefined option presented to the user has been selected by the user; and
terminating each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to initiate the following operations:
gathering information associated with the execution of the each of the plurality of duplicate instances; and
presenting a recommendation, prior to the one predefined option being selected and based upon the gathered information, as to the plurality of the predefined options.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein
the recommendation regards an installation option.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the computer software application is an installation program.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein
the installation program is executing within a virtual machine, and
each of the plurality of duplicate instances execute within respective cloned virtual machines.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to initiate the following operation:
automatically eliminating, as a predefined option to be presented to the user, the predefined option corresponding to one of the plurality of duplicate instances that resulted in a failed operation.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the primary instance is terminated upon each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option being terminated.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein
each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option are configured to self-terminate based upon the one predefined option being selected.
17. A computer program product, comprising:
a hardware storage device having computer-readable program code stored therein for managing execution of a computer software application,
the computer-readable program code, which when executed by a computer hardware system, causes the computer hardware system to perform:
identifying, during execution of a primary instance of the computer software application, the primary instance reaching an execution point that produces a plurality of predefined options for a user;
generating, prior to selection by the user of one of the predefined options and based upon the execution point being reached, a plurality of duplicate instances of the primary instance;
assigning, respectively, execution paths corresponding to the plurality of the predefined options to each of the plurality of duplicate instances;
executing, prior to the selection by the user of the one predefined option, the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths;
presenting, after beginning the executing the plurality of duplicate instances along their respective execution paths; the plurality of the predefined options to the user;
determining that the one predefined option presented to the user has been selected by the user; and
terminating each of the duplicate instances not associated with the one predefined option.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:
gathering information associated with the execution of the each of the plurality of duplicate instances; and
presenting a recommendation, prior to the one predefined option being selected and based upon the gathered information, as to the plurality of the predefined options.
19. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein
the computer software application is an installation program.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:
automatically eliminating, as a predefined option to be presented to the user, the predefined option corresponding to one of the plurality of duplicate instances that resulted in a failed operation.