Visualizations of inter-entity calls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9424026-B2
Application number	US-201414500267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2014
Priority date	Sep 29, 2014
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems, including methods for generating visualizations. On a client side, a user request is received for an inter-entity call visualization. Code analysis data is accessed. A visualization model is built. The visualization is shown. User inputs are received for interacting with the visualization. The visualization is updated based on the received user inputs. On a server side, a request is received for code analysis data. The requested data collected, including running analyzers for any available data. The requested data is sent. The code analysis data can be used for other purposes than visualizations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for generating visualizations of inter-entity calls, comprising:
receiving static information for entities using information from an entity dictionary derived from a static and dynamic code analysis, the entity dictionary including:

for each particular entity of the entities, an abstract syntax tree reference, an entity type, a location, a list of called entities, a list of called-by entities, a scope, a parameter set including parameter items, and comments;
for each called entity of the list of called entities, a called entity identifier, a location, and a set of candidate call entities;
for each parameter item of the parameter set, a parameter type and a parameter name; and
for each candidate called entity of the set of candidate called entities, a candidate entity identifier and a matching score;
receiving dynamic information for the entities using information associated with the entities received at run-time;
receiving a request for a visualization, the visualization including a hierarchical representation of inter-entity calls among the entities, including inter-entity calls between entities in a same source code file, including source code files of weakly-typed, prototype-based languages;
analyzing the static information and the dynamic information;
generating, based on the analyzing, instructions for presenting the visualization;
receiving user inputs for interacting with the visualization; and
updating the visualization based on the received user inputs.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the entities are entities associated with computer code.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization is one of:
an inter-entity, call-directed graph visualization;
an inter-entity, call-collapsible tree visualization; and
an inter-entity call-outline list visualization.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization is integrated with an integrated development environment (IDE) including an editor.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the IDE is cloud-based and the visualization is part of a cloud-based computer code analysis.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein user actions in either one of a given visualization or the IDE cause actions to occur in the other.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user inputs include hiding elements of the visualization, exposing elements of the visualization, changing a central focus of the visualization, and displaying additional information associated with a particular element.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more user inputs further include switching the display to a different visualization and causing associated elements in the visualization or the editor to be highlighted.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by at least one hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to:
receive static information for entities using information from an entity dictionary derived from a static and dynamic code analysis, the entity dictionary including:
for each particular entity of the entities, an abstract syntax tree reference, an entity type, a location, a list of called entities, a list of called-by entities, a scope, a parameter set including parameter items, and comments;
for each called entity of the list of called entities, a called entity identifier, a location, and a set of candidate call entities;
for each parameter item of the parameter set, a parameter type and a parameter name; and
for each candidate called entity of the set of candidate called entities, a candidate entity identifier and a matching score;

receive dynamic information for the entities using information associated with the entities received at run-time;
receive a request for a visualization, the visualization including a hierarchical representation of inter-entity calls among the entities, including inter-entity calls between entities in a same source code file, including source code files of weakly-typed, prototype-based languages;
analyze the static information and the dynamic information;
generate, based on the analyzing, instructions for presenting the visualization;
receive user inputs for interacting with the visualization; and
update the visualization based on the received user inputs.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the entities are entities associated with computer code.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the visualization is one of:
an inter-entity, call-directed graph visualization;
an inter-entity, call-collapsible tree visualization; and
an inter-entity call-outline list visualization.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the visualization is integrated with an integrated development environment (IDE) including an editor.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the IDE is cloud-based and the visualization is part of a cloud-based computer code analysis.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 13 , wherein user actions in either one of a given visualization or the IDE cause actions to occur in the other.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the one or more user inputs include hiding elements of the visualization, exposing elements of the visualization, changing a central focus of the visualization, and displaying additional information associated with a particular element.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the one or more user inputs further include switching the display to a different visualization and causing associated elements in the visualization or the editor to be highlighted.

17. A computer system, comprising:
at least one hardware processor;
a computer memory interoperably coupled with the at least one hardware processor and configured to:
receive static information for entities using information from an entity dictionary derived from a static and dynamic code analysis, the entity dictionary including:
for each particular entity of the entities, an abstract syntax tree reference, an entity type, a location, a list of called entities, a list of called-by entities, a scope, a parameter set including parameter items, and comments;
for each called entity of the list of called entities, a called entity identifier, a location, and a set of candidate call entities;
for each parameter item of the parameter set, a parameter type and a parameter name; and
for each candidate called entity of the set of candidate called entities, a candidate entity identifier and a matching score;

receive dynamic information for the entities using information associated with the entities received at run-time;
receive a request for a visualization, the visualization including a hierarchical representation of inter-entity calls among the entities, including inter-entity calls between entities in a same source code file, including source code files of weakly-typed, prototype-based languages;
analyze the static information and the dynamic information;
generate, based on the analyzing, instructions for presenting the visualization;
receive user inputs for interacting with the visualization; and
update the visualization based on the received user inputs.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the entities are entities associated with computer code.

19. The computer system of

Assignees

• Atanasiu Radu-Florian
• Keller Anne
• Wei Wei
• Witteborg Heiko
• Sap Se

Inventors

• Atanasiu Radu-Florian
• Keller Anne
• Wei Wei
• Witteborg Heiko

Classifications

• G06F8/75

  Structural analysis for program understanding · CPC title

• G06F11/3698

  Environments for analysis, debugging or testing of software · CPC title

• G06F8/38

  for implementing user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F8/35

  model driven · CPC title

• G06F11/3636

  by tracing the execution of the program · CPC title