System and method for software development including column-based process editor

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein are systems and methods for use with business process management (BPM) systems or environments, including software development tools for developing software applications that are associated with business processes (business process software applications, business process applications, process applications, or processes). In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a column-based process editor and graphical user interface, that can utilize a column-based format to model and display a process, for example a dynamic process, which can subsequently be deployed and executed within the system or environment. For example, the column-based process editor and graphical user interface can include various graphical elements to indicate configured properties of artifacts of a dynamic process. Interaction with the graphical elements enables users to review, edit, and/or remove particular properties associated with the dynamic process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for developing integration processes, comprising:
 providing, at one or more computing devices, a process environment that integrates and executes processes associated with a plurality of software applications, wherein the applications communicate via integrations that includes a source connection associated with a first application operating as a source of data, and a target connection associated with a second application operating as a target for receiving the data;   generating a graphical representation of an integration including the first and second applications and a mapping of data associated therewith, for display by a client computing device;   receiving user input directed to development of the integration including the first and second applications and the mapping of data associated therewith; and   updating the integration based at least in part on the user input.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the integrated process is displayed within an interactive graphical user interface at the client computing device by the process environment, which receives user input directed 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process environment provides a process hierarchy that defines a hierarchy of parts of a dynamic process including stages and tasks, and which is use by a column-based process editor to generate a graphical representation of the integrated process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process environment includes a notation translation engine operable to receive a data input in a first notation language; parse input tokens to build an abstract syntax tree; and traverse the abstract syntax applying rules to convert the tokens and produce an expression in a second notation language. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process environment operates to determine data objects of a same data type, and determine names of the data objects, and populate, based on a determined same type of data and the determined names, a data object field in the user interface with the data object; and a process object field with a process object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process environment operates to receive a JSON instance including fields and corresponding values, and parse the data values to determine one or more data types, which data types are then be used as the data type of the corresponding field in a process object definition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process environment is provided within or as part of a cloud environment. 
     
     
         8 . A system for developing integration processes, comprising:
 one or more computing devices having a process environment that:   integrates and executes processes associated with a plurality of software applications, wherein the applications communicate via integrations that includes a source connection associated with a first application operating as a source of data, and a target connection associated with a second application operating as a target for receiving the data;   generates a graphical representation of an integration including the first and second applications and a mapping of data associated therewith, for display by a client computing device;   receives user input directed to development of the integration including the first and second applications and the mapping of data associated therewith; and   updates the integration based at least in part on the user input.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the graphical representation of the integrated process is displayed within an interactive graphical user interface at the client computing device by the process environment, which receives user input directed 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the process environment provides a process hierarchy that defines a hierarchy of parts of a dynamic process including stages and tasks, and which is use by a column-based process editor to generate a graphical representation of the integrated process. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the process environment includes a notation translation engine operable to receive a data input in a first notation language; parse input tokens to build an abstract syntax tree; and traverse the abstract syntax applying rules to convert the tokens and produce an expression in a second notation language. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the process environment operates to determine data objects of a same data type, and determine names of the data objects, and populate, based on a determined same type of data and the determined names, a data object field in the user interface with the data object; and a process object field with a process object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the process environment operates to receive a JSON instance including fields and corresponding values, and parse the data values to determine one or more data types, which data types are then be used as the data type of the corresponding field in a process object definition. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the process environment is provided within or as part of a cloud environment. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the method comprising:
 providing, at one or more computing devices, a process environment that integrates and executes processes associated with a plurality of software applications, wherein the applications communicate via integrations that includes a source connection associated with a first application operating as a source of data, and a target connection associated with a second application operating as a target for receiving the data;   generating a graphical representation of an integration including the first and second applications and a mapping of data associated therewith, for display by a client computing device;   receiving user input directed to development of the integration including the first and second applications and the mapping of data associated therewith; and   updating the integration based at least in part on the user input.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the graphical representation of the integrated process is displayed within an interactive graphical user interface at the client computing device by the process environment, which receives user input directed 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the process environment provides a process hierarchy that defines a hierarchy of parts of a dynamic process including stages and tasks, and which is use by a column-based process editor to generate a graphical representation of the integrated process. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the process environment includes a notation translation engine operable to receive a data input in a first notation language; parse input tokens to build an abstract syntax tree; and traverse the abstract syntax applying rules to convert the tokens and produce an expression in a second notation language. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the process environment operates to determine data objects of a same data type, and determine names of the data objects, and populate, based on a determined same type of data and the determined names, a data object field in the user interface with the data object; and a process object field with a process object. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the process environment operates to receive a JSON instance including fields and corresponding values, and parse the data values to determine one or more data types, which data types are then be used as the data type of the corresponding field in a process object definition.