Backend custom code extensibility

Abstract

Techniques are described herein that are capable of providing backend custom code extensibility. Such extensibility allows custom code to be automatically loaded dynamically (e.g., on-demand) in a runtime that is hosted by a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) module while the runtime is running to provide custom backend features that are defined by the custom code to an application in response to receipt of a request from the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing backend custom code extensibility, the method comprising:
 receiving custom code from a user for incorporation into a backend-as-a-service module that is configured to provide a backend service to a corresponding application; and   in response to receipt of a request from the corresponding application, automatically loading the custom code dynamically in a runtime hosted by the backend-as-a-service module while the runtime is running, using at least one element that includes at least one of (a) one or more processors, (b) physical hardware, or (c) electrical circuitry, to provide custom backend features that are defined by the custom code to the corresponding application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the runtime is a native runtime of the custom code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically loading the custom code dynamically in the runtime comprises:
 automatically loading the custom code dynamically in the runtime without necessitating that the runtime be re-loaded.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically loading the custom code dynamically in the runtime comprises:
 automatically loading the custom code, which is operable to explicitly invoke a default operation and to modify one or more inputs of the default operation before the default operation is performed, dynamically in the runtime while the runtime is running.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically loading the custom code dynamically in the runtime comprises:
 automatically loading the custom code, which is operable to explicitly invoke a default operation and to modify one or more outputs of the default operation by the custom code after the default operation is performed, dynamically in the runtime while the runtime is running.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically loading the custom code dynamically in the runtime comprises:
 automatically loading the custom code, which is operable to call into the runtime to use one or more services that are provided by the runtime, dynamically in the runtime while the runtime is running.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring the custom code, using the runtime, while the custom code runs to determine whether at least one of a failure of the custom code or a bug in the custom code causes the corresponding application to become unresponsive.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 provisioning a website, a database, and a set of uniform resource identifiers that correspond to the custom code in response to receiving the custom code;   receiving a URI request at the back-end-as-a-service module that identifies at least one of the uniform resource identifiers in response to receipt of the request from the corresponding application; and   executing the custom code in response to receiving the URI request.   
     
     
         9 . A system to provide backend custom code extensibility, the system comprising:
 at least one element comprising at least one of (a) a processor, (b) hardware logic, or (c) electrical circuitry;   an interface configured to receive custom code for incorporation into a backend-as-a-service module that is configured to provide a backend service to a corresponding application; and   auto-load logic, implemented using the at least one element, configured to automatically load the custom code dynamically in a runtime hosted by the backend-as-a-service module while the runtime is running to provide custom backend features that are defined by the custom code to the corresponding application in response to receipt of a request from the corresponding application.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the runtime is a native runtime of the custom code. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the custom code is operable to access code modules that are external to the custom code. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the custom code is operable to explicitly invoke a default operation and to modify one or more inputs of the default operation before the default operation is performed. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the runtime is configured to monitor the custom code while the custom code runs to determine whether at least one of a failure of the custom code or a bug in the custom code causes the corresponding application to become unresponsive. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the custom code is operable to call into the runtime to use one or more services that are provided by the runtime. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the auto-load logic is configured to automatically load the custom code dynamically in the runtime without necessitating that the runtime be re-loaded. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 provisioning logic configured to provision a website, a database, and a set of uniform resource identifiers that correspond to the custom code in response to receipt of the custom code; and   execution logic configured to execute the custom code in response to receipt of the request from the corresponding application and further in response to receipt of a URI request that identifies at least one of the uniform resource identifiers.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor-based system to provide backend custom code extensibility, the computer program product comprising:
 a program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to automatically load custom code, which is configured for incorporation into a backend-as-a-service module, dynamically in a runtime hosted by the backend-as-a-service module while the runtime is running to provide custom backend features that are defined by the custom code to a corresponding application in response to receipt of a request from the corresponding application, the backend-as-a-service module configured to provide a backend service to the corresponding application.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the runtime is a native runtime of the custom code. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the custom code is operable to explicitly invoke a default operation and to modify one or more inputs of the default operation before the default operation is performed. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the custom code is operable to call into the runtime to use one or more services that are provided by the runtime.