Method and system for code generation

Abstract

A method and system for providing target code to various computer systems. The target code is provided by a service. The service provides a mechanism for third-party developers to submit initial or base code for distribution to end-user computers as target code. The service converts the initial code to target code that is suitable for execution on the end-user computers. When the service receives the request for target code that matches certain requester-specified characteristics, it selects the intermediate code that best matches the requester-specified characteristics. The service then sends the target code to the requester.

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing code to computer systems, comprising:
 receiving base code and developer-specified characteristics of the base code from a developer;   translating the received base code into an intermediate code;   evaluating the intermediate code to determine whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;   notifying the developer whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;   receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy;   selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics;   transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and   sending the target code to the requester.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base code is source code and the target code is executable code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaluating includes determining whether the developer is authorized to submit base code. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the developer-specified characteristics identify a functional category for the code. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the functional categories include networking, communications, client-server, user interface, Internet browsing, electronic mail, audio, video, telephony, television, compression, encryption, logging, feature manager, hardware interface, or miscellaneous. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transforming includes optimizing the intermediate code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transforming includes compiling the intermediate code to produce executable target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including billing for providing the target code to the requester. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the billing includes compensating the developer for the sending of target code that is based on base code provided by the developer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the billing is based on per use receiving of target code by the requester. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the billing includes differential billing based on the requester-specified characteristics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transforming of the intermediate code uses beads of a Strings-based operating environment. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method for processing developer-provided code to be distributed to requesters when requested, comprising:
 receiving base code and developer-specified characteristics of the base code from a developer;   evaluating the base code to determine whether it satisfies the developer-specified characteristics;   notifying the developer whether the received base code satisfies the developer-specified characteristics; and   when target code that derives from the received base code is distributed to a requester, compensating the developer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  including:
 receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy; 
 selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics; 
 transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and 
 sending the target code to the requester. 
 
     
     
         15 . A computer-based method for providing code for computer systems, comprising:
 providing a collection of intermediate code;   receiving a request for target code from a requester, the request including requester-specified characteristics that the target code should satisfy;   selecting intermediate code that matches the requester-specified characteristics;   transforming the selected intermediate code to target code in accordance with the requester-specified characteristics; and   sending the target code to the requester.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the selecting uses a least-squares analysis based various characteristics of the intermediate code. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the selecting is based on processor speed requirements, processor type, or memory requirements.