System and method for modular business applications

Abstract

A tailored add-on component for a released software product having internal and released development objects. The released development objects are designed for external use, such as end-user customization. The internal development objects are designed for use within the released software product, with no access from outside components. The tailored add-on component adds a functional application that makes calls to both released and internal objects. Access to internal objects is made while maintaining stability by confining internal object calls to a single adaptation component within the add-on, while also implementing an interface for the objects of the software product that are used by the add-on. The interface includes a function to freeze objects that are in the interface, and a set of automatic test components to identify changes in the objects that are in the interface.

1 . A system for providing stable add-on applications to a released software environment, comprising:
 an electronic storage medium configured to store an add-on application;   an electronic processor in communication with the electronic storage medium;
 wherein the released software environment include released objects designed for access by outside programs and internal objects designed for use by only the released software environment; 
 wherein the add-on application includes an adaptation component and an application component, both configured to execute on the electronic processor;
 wherein the application component is configured to call only released objects and the adaptation component is configured to call internal objects; 
 
 wherein the released software environment includes an interface that includes all objects accessed by the add-on application;
 wherein the interface includes an object freeze function that operates on all the objects accessed by the add-on application; 
 wherein the interface includes an automatic test function to detect changes in behaviour of the objects accessed by the add-on application; and 
 
 wherein the electronic processor is configured to, responsive to an indication by the automatic test function, compile a new interface version, a new test component version, and a new adaptation component version. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptation component is configured perform all error handing for calls made to internal objects. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptation component is configured perform all conflict resolutions for calls made to internal objects. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein freezing an object ensures a warning message is sent to a developer assigned to the object, responsive to a change or attempted change in the object. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein freezing an object ensures an instruction set is sent to a developer assigned to the object, responsive to a change or attempted change in the object by the developer. 
     
     
         6 . A method for providing stable add-on applications to a released software environment, comprising:
 providing the released software environment that includes released objects designed for access by outside programs and internal objects designed for use by only the released software environment;   providing an add-on application that includes an adaptation component and an application component;   restricting the application component to call only released objects;   allowing the adaptation component to call internal objects;   providing an interface for the released software environment that includes all objects accessed by the add-on application;   freezing the interface with an object freeze function that operates on all the objects accessed by the add-on application;   automatically testing the interface to detect changes in behaviour of the objects accessed by the add-on application; and   responsive to an indication by the automatic test function, compiling a new interface version, a new test component version, and a new adaptation component version.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 performing, in the adaptation component, all error handing for calls made to internal objects.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 performing, in the adaptation component, all conflict resolutions for calls made to internal objects.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 as part of freezing an object and responsive to a change or attempted change in the object: sending a warning message to a developer assigned to the object.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 as part of freezing an object and responsive to a change or attempted change in the object: sending an instruction set to a developer assigned to the object.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions configured to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the performance of a method, comprising:
 providing the released software environment that includes released objects designed for access by outside programs and internal objects designed for use by only the released software environment;   providing an add-on application that includes an adaptation component and an application component;   restricting the application component to call only released objects;   allowing the adaptation component to call internal objects;   providing an interface for the released software environment that includes all objects accessed by the add-on application;   freezing the interface with an object freeze function that operates on all the objects accessed by the add-on application;   automatically testing the interface to detect changes in behaviour of the objects accessed by the add-on application; and   responsive to an indication by the automatic test function, compiling a new interface version, a new test component version, and a new adaptation component version.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 performing, in the adaptation component, all error handing for calls made to internal objects.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 performing, in the adaptation component, all conflict resolutions for calls made to internal objects.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 as part of freezing an object and responsive to a change or attempted change in the object: sending a warning message to a developer assigned to the object.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 as part of freezing an object and responsive to a change or attempted change in the object: sending an instruction set to a developer assigned to the object.