Software development tool employing workflows for developing user interactive programs

摘要

A software development tool employing workflows for developing user interactive programs is described. The tool includes means for displaying a workspace on a computer screen, and means for displaying objects on the computer screen that are individually selectable to be placed and coupled together in the workspace to define a workflow for a user interactive program. Several objects have interactively alterable operation parameters. One object performs an interactively alterable switch function for directing data flow within the workflow. Another object facilitates branch processing according to a user indicated selection from displayed information generated by the user interactive program. Another object facilitates assigning a name to an input port of another object so that data may be directly provided to that input port. Another object prompts a user for input when a condition is met while executing the user interactive program. Also described is a method performing these functions of the software development tool.