Visualization of code units across disparate systems

Abstract

A visualization tool that provides visibility of the functionality implemented with each system used by an institution(s) at code unit granularity can be used to overcome a variety of challenges that can occur in an environment with disparate systems. The visualization tool discovers and graphically displays functions/procedures/methods (“code units”) that satisfy a set of one or more criteria, as well as attributes of the discovered code units. Furthermore, the visualization tool can automatically provide visual annotations to identify targets for asset maintenance, targets to leverage for other systems, etc.

1 . A method comprising:
 identifying at least one code unit of a plurality of code units stored within a plurality of disparate systems, said identifying in accordance with one or more criteria, wherein the plurality of code units comprises code of different programming languages;   storing data corresponding to each of said at least one code unit, wherein the data comprises a code unit identifier, indication of a programming language, and one or more attributes; and   generating a graphical representation of the at least one code unit,   wherein the graphical representation comprises graphic elements that indicate the code unit identifier and the one or more attributes,   wherein the graphical representation comprises a control point that, when activated, graphically decomposes a first of the graphic elements to reveal a second of the graphic elements that indicates the one or more attributes of the at least one code unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said identifying comprises invoking a plurality of asset specific search processes with the one or more criteria. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a first of the plurality of asset specific search processes searches an asset of a first programming language. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of disparate systems comprises an asset coded in accordance with one or more programming languages. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of assets comprises a first asset with COBOL code and a second asset with code of an object oriented programming language. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more attributes comprises at least one of input, output, data type, and code unit size. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising building a hierarchical representation with the data, wherein the graphical representation is generated based, at least in part, on the hierarchical representation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising automatically identifying redundant code units that occur within a single one of the disparate systems.