Workflow engine for execution of web mashups

摘要

A software-implemented workflow engine is described that executes a Web mashup within the context of a Web browser running on a computer. The workflow engine is configured to parse a Web mashup definition obtained from a remote server to identify distinct units of execution within the Web mashup, referred to as components. The workflow engine is further configured to obtain programming logic and metadata associated with each type of component identified in the Web mashup definition from the remote server and to use such information to generate executable versions of the identified components. Finally, the workflow engine is configured to run each of the executable components, thereby executing the Web mashup. The workflow engine is configured to manage the order of execution of each of the executable components so that the Web mashup runs in an optimized and reliable fashion.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for executing an application comprising:
obtaining an application definition file that includes an application definition; parsing the application definition to identify components and parameters associated with the components, each component comprising a distinct unit of execution within the application and being in a non-executable form, and the application definition including one or more first values to be input to at least one of the components identified, one or more properties relating to how output is to be presented from the at least one of the components identified, and information indicating whether one or more second values output from a first one of the identified components is to be used as an input to a second one of the identified components; obtaining one or more component code files that include programming logic associated with each type of component identified in the application definition, the programming logic being configured to execute each type of component identified in the application definition; obtaining one or more component description files that include metadata associated with each type of component identified in the application definition; for each component type identified:
creating a factory; andusing the factory to generate a plurality of executable versions of the identified components for the component type using at least the programming logic and the metadata obtained for the component type, each of the plurality of executable versions being generated by modifying the programming logic for the component type based on a respective one or more parameters of the identified parameters that are associated with a respective identified component of the identified components; and managing execution of each of the executable components, the application being created by selectively combining graphical representations of the identified components by a user via a graphical user interface, the application definition file and the one or more component description files being created in response to the user saving the created application via the graphical user interface.