Techniques to enhance software production

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9710261-B2
Application number	US-77528210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2010
Priority date	May 6, 2010
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

Techniques to enhance software production are described. An apparatus may include a processor and a memory unit to couple to the processor. The memory unit may store a software build service that when executed by the processor is operative to receive a request to subscribe to the software build service from a software development client, create a virtual software build platform to build a software application, and assign multiple build resources from a resource pool to the virtual software build platform to build the software application, with each of the multiple build resources having one or more assigned affinity relationships for build execution tasks to build the software application. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving by a processor a request to subscribe to a software build service;
creating a virtual software build platform when a subscription operation is complete;
receiving a build definition file with the build execution tasks and build definitions to build the software application;
assigning multiple build resources from a resource pool in a shared environment to the virtual software build platform to build a software application, wherein each build resource of the multiple build resources comprises a build machine configured to execute the build execution tasks;
securing data associated with the build execution tasks with an encryption key; and
scheduling the build execution tasks for execution by the multiple build resources based on a distributed build schedule and assigned affinity relationships, wherein a type of affinity relationship is assigned to a build resource indicating a build machine cannot execute a specific build execution task and that the specific build execution task cannot be executed by the build machine;
executing each of the build execution tasks by the multiple build resources in accordance with the distributed build schedule to convert multiple source code files into binary code files; and
packaging the binary code files to form a software application package for the software application wherein the source code files and the binary code files are self-contained and inaccessible to a software development client.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the encryption key prevents unauthorized access to the data associated with the build execution tasks and ensures only authorized code for the software application runs on the virtual software build platform.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising allocating one or more workspaces for execution of the build execution tasks.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising loading hardware for the build resource with the security credential.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning one or more affinity relationships to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, each affinity relationship representing a relationship between a build execution task and a build resource.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a default affinity relationship to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, the default affinity relationship indicating a build resource can execute any build execution task during a software build session.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a type one affinity relationship to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, the type one affinity relationship indicating a build resource can execute a specific build execution task and other build execution tasks during a software build session, and the specific build execution task cannot be executed by another build resource during a software build session.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a type two affinity relationship to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, the type two affinity relationship indicating a build resource can execute only a specific build execution task and no other build execution tasks during a software build session, and the specific build execution task can execute on other build resources.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a type three affinity relationship to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, the type three affinity relationship indicating a build resource can execute only a specific build execution task and no other build execution tasks during a software build session, and the specific build execution task can only execute on the build resource.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a type four affinity relationship to a build resource, a build task or both a build resource and a build task, the type four affinity relationship indicating a build resource cannot execute a specific build execution task during a software build session, and the specific build execution task cannot be executed by the build resource during the software build session.

11. An article of manufacture comprising storage hardware containing instructions that when executed enable a system to:
receive a plurality of build resources, each build resource comprising a build machine for assignment to a resource pool for a virtual software build platform, each build resource comprising a generic build machine having the ability to execute build execution tasks for building a software application during a software build session on the virtual software build platform, the virtual software build platform being operative to pack binary code for the software application into a software application package, the binary code being operative to run tests on the software application package and deploy the tested software application package to a production environment;
install a task service module on the build machine for interoperation with a task manager for the virtual software build platform;
provide customizable extension points to the virtual software build platform for additional build services; and
assign one or more affinity relationships to at least one of a build machine or a build task, at least one affinity relationship to identify which of a plurality of build machines cannot execute a specific build execution task and at least one other affinity relationship to indicate which of the plurality of build machines can execute only the specific build execution task and no other build execution tasks during the software build session, wherein the specific build execution task can only execute on the build machine in an isolated environment.

12. The article of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to assign a default affinity relationship indicating a build machine can execute any build execution task during a software build session.

13. The article of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to assign a type one affinity relationship indicating a build machine can execute a specific build execution task and other build execution tasks during a software build session, and the specific build execution task cannot be executed by another build machine during a software build session.

14. The article of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to assign a type two affinity relationship indicating a build machine can execute only a specific build execution task and no other build execution tasks during a software build session, and the specific build execution task can execute on other build machines.

15. The article of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to continually modify the build execution tasks for execution by different build resources of the virtual software build platform.

16. The article of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to assign a type four affinity relationship indicating a build machine cannot execute a specific build execution task during a software build session, and the specific build execution task cannot be executed by the build machine during the software build session.

17.

Assignees

• Frankin Douglas
• Olewski Daniel
• Jordan Kenneth
• Faiks Stephen
• Abbatiello Jason
• Taylor Marcus
• Davidson Philip
• Bowser John
• Doubrovkine Daniel
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Frankin Douglas
• Olewski Daniel
• Jordan Kenneth
• Faiks Stephen
• Abbatiello Jason
• Taylor Marcus
• Davidson Philip
• Bowser John
• Doubrovkine Daniel

Classifications

• G06F8/20

  Software design · CPC title

• G06F8/71 Primary

  Version control (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57); Configuration management · CPC title