METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SOURCE CODE

摘要

Source code generation tools (120) rely upon an architecture where the source to be generated is embedded in the application code. These tools may use a GUI layer to capture user's information (205), and transform the user's information (205) into source by patching pieces of source code that is embedded in the application code and produce the source code. Because the code pieces used to generate the output are embedded in the application code itself, code modification requires programmers to edit the source code of the application itself and modify it. The invention provides a method and apparatus for generating source code for computer programs. The method in the invention provides a set of tasks that are carried out to transform data in successive steps of data conversion. For example, a user may enter a set of data rules (205) using a first specification language to describe a desired computer program. The invention provides a method to apply a suite of transformations to data resulting in the generation of source code (215) capable of running in specific environments. The invention provides means for generating source code for whole new software applications, and for integrating newly generated source with existing projects and environments.