Systems and methods for building and deploying mobile applications

Abstract

Systems and methods may generate applications for operating platforms. A data source for an application definition may be created, and an object may be mapped to the data source. An application definition may be generated from the data source and object. An operating platform for application publication may be selected from among a plurality of platforms. An application may be generated for the selected operating platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, with a design module running on a processor in communication with a database, data comprising a design for an application definition from a remote computer via a network, the application definition describing a function of an application;   creating, with a design-time interface of the design module, a data source for the application definition, the data source comprising a definition of a location from which data can be retrieved by the application and/or to which data can be saved by the application;   mapping, with the design-time interface of the design module, an object to the data source;   receiving, with the design module, a selection of one or more client operating platforms for application publication from among a plurality of platforms from the remote computer via the network;   generating, with at least one generator module, source code for the application including source code for a client application component native to each of the selected one or more client operating platforms using the application definition; and   sending, with the design module, the source code for the application to the remote computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending to the remote computer via the network, with the processor, data enabling a display associated with the remote computer to display template information associated with a template; and   wherein the receiving of the data comprising the design for the application definition comprises receiving data placed in the template.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, with the processor, the application definition in the database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 retrieving, with the processor, the stored application definition from the database;   receiving, with the processor, data associated with a change to the retrieved application definition; and   modifying, with the processor, the retrieved application definition by incorporating the received data into the retrieved application definition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 generating, with the remote computer, the data associated with the change to the retrieved application definition; and   sending, with the remote computer, the data associated with the change to the retrieved application definition to the processor via the network.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the source code for the application in the database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, with the at least one generator module, a preview application for each of the selected one or more client operating platforms from the application definition; and   sending to the remote computer via the network data enabling a display associated with the remote computer to display the preview application.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, with the processor, data associated with a third-party application;   integrating, with the processor, the data associated with the third-party application into the application definition.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the source code for the application comprises installing an extension, generating custom logic, and/or assembling a user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the application comprises generating libraries. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location defined by the data source comprises a database, a web service, and/or a software application. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the source code for the application comprises:
 incorporating pre-built code into the source code for the application;   receiving custom code from the remote computer and incorporating the custom code into the source code for the application; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, with the remote computer, the data comprising the design for the application definition; and   sending, with the remote computer, the data comprising the design for the application definition to the processor via the network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compiling, with the least one generator module, the source code for the application to generate the application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sending, with the design module, the application to the remote computer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing the application in the database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated source code is uncompiled source code. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated source code includes source code for a run-time services component employed by all of the selected one or more client operating platforms. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the client application component is configured to be executed by a client; and   the run-time services component is configured to be executed by a server in communication with the client.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application for each of the selected one or more client operating platforms is independent of the design module. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a database;   a processor in communication with the database, the processor constructed and arranged to:
 receive data comprising a design for an application definition from a remote computer via a network, the application definition describing a function of an application; 
 create, with a design-time interface, a data source for the application definition, the data source comprising a definition of a location from which data can be retrieved by the application and/or to which data can be saved by the application; 
 map, with the design-time interface, an object to the data source; 
 generate, with the design-time interface, an application definition from the data source and object; and 
 receive a selection of one or more client operating platforms for application publication from among a plurality of platforms from the remote computer via the network; and 
   at least one generator module, running on the processor or another processor constructed and arranged to generate source code for the application including source code for a client application component native to each of the selected one or more client operating platforms using the application definition;   wherein the processor is further constructed and arranged to send the source code for the application to the remote computer.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the processor is further constructed and arranged to send, to the remote computer via the network, data enabling a display associated with the remote computer to display template information associated with a template; and   wherein the processor receives data placed in the template.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further constructed and arranged to store the application definition in the database. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is further constructed and arranged to:
 retrieve the stored application definition from the database;   receive data associated with a change to the retrieved application definition; and   modify the retrieved application definition by incorporating the received data into the retrieved application definition.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the remote computer is constructed and arranged to:
 generate the data associated with the change to the retrieved application definition; and   send the data associated with the change to the retrieved application definition to the processor via the network.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one generator module is further constructed and arranged to store the source code for the application in the database. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one generator module is further constructed and arranged to:
 generate a preview application for each of the selected one or more client operating platforms from the application definition; and   send, to the remote computer via the network, data enabling a display associated with the remote computer to display the preview application.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further constructed and arranged to:
 receive data associated with a third-party application;   integrate the data associated with the third-party application into the application design.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one generator module installs an extension, generates custom logic, and/or assembles a user interface. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the generating of the application comprises generating libraries. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the location defined by the data source comprises a database, a web service, and/or a software application. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the generating of the application comprises:
 incorporating pre-built code into the source code for the application;   receiving custom code from the remote computer and incorporating the custom code into the source code for the application; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the remote computer is constructed and arranged to:
 generate the data for the application definition; and   send the data for the application definition to the processor via the network.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one generator module is further constructed and arranged to compile the source code for the application to generate the application. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor is further constructed and arranged to send the application to the remote computer. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one generator module is further constructed and arranged to store the application in the database. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the generated source code is uncompiled source code. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the generated source code includes source code for a run-time services component employed by all of the selected one or more client operating platforms. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the client application component is configured to be executed by a client; and   the run-time services component is configured to be executed by a server in communication with the client.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the application for each of the selected one or more client operating platforms is independent of the design module.