Browser-based development tools and methods for developing the same

Abstract

A browser-based development tool is presented. The tool comprises an interactive user interface running in a browser resident on a client. The tool is programmed to enable a user to select a source of data from a server in communication with the client using the user interface and retrieve a limited data set from the selected data source. The data content of the limited data set is limited to that which is needed to populate a series of independent cells visible in a browser field. The tool is further programmed to display the retrieved data in the series of independent cells visible in the browser field and seamlessly scroll through the data displayed in the series of independent cells as requested by the user. Additionally, a browser-based application can be developed locally on the client using the tool, saved on the server and deployed to others through the server.

1 . A browser-based development tool, the tool comprising an interactive user interface running in a browser resident on a client, wherein the tool is programmed to:
 enable a user to select a source of data from a server in communication with the client using the user interface;   retrieve a limited data set from the selected data source, wherein the data content of the limited data set is limited to that which is needed to populate a series of independent cells visible in a browser field;   display the retrieved data in the series of independent cells visible in the browser field; and   seamlessly scroll through the data displayed in the series of independent cells as requested by the user.   
   
   
       2 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is programmed to enable the user to select more than one source of data. 
   
   
       3 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is programmed to display selected data in a single browser view. 
   
   
       4 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the browser field represents the visible field of view of the browser. 
   
   
       5 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the browser field represents a user-centric set of data fields. 
   
   
       6 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the user modifies each individual cell individually. 
   
   
       7 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 6 , wherein the user modifies the individual cells with an input device. 
   
   
       8 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the individual cells are arranged into rows and columns to form tables. 
   
   
       9 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 8 , wherein the rows and columns are individually modified by the user. 
   
   
       10 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein each independent cell can be individually modified by querying, editing, managing, analyzing or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is programmed to:
 edit the data displayed in the independent cells individually.   
   
   
       12 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is programmed to:
 send the edited data to the server; and   automatically update the data resident on the server with the edited data.   
   
   
       13 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is programmed to:
 cache already viewed database records locally.   
   
   
       14 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is programmed to:
 automatically detect scrolling activity.   
   
   
       15 . The browser-based development tool of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises a programmer, a database administrator, a business user, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       16 . A method for developing a browser-based application using a browser-based development tool, the method comprising:
 enabling a user to select and retrieve the browser-based application for development from a server using an interactive user interface running in a browser resident on a client;   displaying the retrieved browser-based application in a browser field;   developing the browser-based application locally on the client using the browser-based development tool;   saving the developed browser-based application on the server; and   deploying the developed browser-based application to others through the server.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 debugging the browser-based application on the client before saving the browser-based application.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the browser-based application comprises a database, a listing, a grid, a data entry form, a record inquiry, a dynamic graph, a dynamic chart, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein developing the browser-based application comprises defining, creating, editing, using, updating, modifying or combinations thereof the browser-based application. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 updating the saved browser-based application through the browser interface.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the retrieved application is legacy software. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 updating the legacy software with the browser-based development tool through the browser interface.