Versioned project association

Abstract

Systems, clients, servers, methods, and computer-readable media of varying scope are described that maintain versions of associations between project management objects such as source cod files, bug data, development issue data, and software specifications. One aspect of the system is that the project association data is stored in a relational database. A link set data structure provides a link to objects that are to be associated together. A link content data structure describes an individual project management object that is linked with other objects in the link set. As a software development project progresses through its life cycle, changes to the associations occur. The changes are captured and stored in the database. Previous versions of the associations are maintained in the project database, thereby allowing a user to query for the state of the project associations as they existed at any particular point in time.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for removing a project management object from a set of associated project management objects, the method comprising: 
 receiving an identifier for a link set corresponding to the set of associated project management objects;    receiving a reference to the project management object;    locating a link content data structure containing the reference to the project management object; and    setting an end time field in the link content data structure to a value representing the current time.    
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the reference to the project management object is a URL.  
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the link content data structure is a row in a database.  
   
   
       30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the link set data structure is a row in a database.  
   
   
       31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the project management object is selected from the group consisting of: source code file, development issue data, bug data, project milestone, and software specification file.  
   
   
       32 - 34 . (canceled)