System and method for context-sensitive help in a design environment

Abstract

An intelligent tool for assisting a developer during the creation or maintenance of software generates an icon when triggered by input. Upon selection of the icon, options are displayed for potential selection. Upon selection of an entry, event associated with the entry are deployed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of providing context-sensitive help for potential next-tasks in a development environment, the method comprising: 
 displaying at least a section of source code for a computer program, said section of source code including an entity associated with a pre-determined event;    detecting the pre-determined event;    determining at least one potential task associated with the pre-determined event; and    displaying an icon proximate to the at least one section of source code.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 upon selection of the icon, displaying at least one entry associated with an action.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, upon selection of the at least one entry, performing the action associated with the at least one entry.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein performing the action associated with the at least one entry comprises inserting a section of code into the source program.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein performing the action associated with the at least one entry comprises removing a section of code from the source program.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein performing the action associated with the at least one entry comprises modifying a section of code from the source program.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein performing the action associated with the at least one entry comprises modifying a file associated with the action.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the section of source code is displayed utilizing an editor.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined event comprises detecting entry of one of a triggering character or a triggering sequence of characters.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering character or triggering sequence of characters is a separator.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the icon is selectable by one of hovering a cursor over the icon and clicking on the icon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one entry is displayed proximate to the section of source code.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one entry is selectable by clicking on the entry.  
     
     
         14 . A system for providing context-sensitive help in a development environment for potential next tasks in a development environment, the system comprising: 
 an editor to provide for developing source code for a computer, the source code including at least one entity;    a datastore including information associated with the at least one entity;    a language service for parsing the source code and generating information for the datastore; and    an option-generator for determining at least one potential next task.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the language service further comprises a C++ parser.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the language service comprises a C# parser.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the language service comprises a J# parser.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the language service comprises a Visual Basic parser.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the option-generator includes a set of heuristics for determining potential next tasks.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the datastore includes a dynamically updated component and a pre-built component.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the option-generator further comprises means for displaying an icon next to the modifiable code.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the option-generator further comprises means for selecting at least one of a list of next tasks to be performed, the at least one of the list associated with inserting code in a source program.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting the code associated with the selected one of the list of next tasks into the source program.  
     
     
         24 . A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for: 
 developing at least a section of source code for a computer program, said section of source code including an entity associated with a pre-determined event;    detecting the pre-determined event;    determining at least one potential task associated with the pre-determined event;    displaying an icon proximate to the at least one section of source code; and    upon selection of the icon, displaying at least one entry associated with an action.    
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , further comprising computer-readable instructions for in response to receiving a selection of the at least one entry, performing the action associated with the at least one entry.