Navigation-independent access to elements of an integrated development environment (IDE) using uniform resource locators (URLs)

摘要

The present invention discloses a navigation-independent system for accessing the elements of an integrated development environment (IDE) using uniform resource locators (URLs). Such a system can include a set of URL-accessible IDE elements, a set of URLs, and a URL operation tool. The set of URL-accessible IDE elements can represent a multitude of functional objects accessible by the IDE. Each URL-retrievable IDE element can include a set of meta data that contains key words describing the URL-accessible IDE element. Each URL in the set of URLs can be configured to provide a navigation-independent mechanism for accessing a corresponding URL-accessible IDE element. The URL operation tool can be configured to associate URLs with URL-accessible IDE elements and execute URL operations on the URL-accessible IDE elements.

主权项

1. A method for accessing elements of an integrated development environment (IDE) using uniform resource locators (URLs) comprising:
at least one computer receiving a user-entered search string; the at least one computer querying meta data containing key words associated with a set of URL-accessible IDE elements of an IDE for matches to the user-entered search string, wherein each URL-accessible IDE element of the set of URL-accessible IDE elements includes a URL that provides a navigation-independent access mechanism; the at least one computer, when the querying step finds at least one match, generating a search results list of matching URL-accessible IDE elements; the at least one computer presenting the search results list, wherein the search results list includes at least one of a name, a description, and the URL of each matching URL-accessible IDE element in the search results list, and wherein a user-selection of one of the matching URL-accessible IDE elements from the search results list results in an operation within the IDE occurring that uses the selected one of the matching URL-accessible IDE elements from the search results list; and the at least one computer logging an access of the selected one of the matching URL-accessible IDE elements from the search results list in a user history document.