Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Joshua Christopher Shepard

Peter Christian Huene

Shankar Vaidyanathan

Tarek Madkour

C Douglas Hodges

Rahul Sudhir Kumar

Izydor Gryko

Christopher Joseph Burrows

Kevin Perry

Svetlozar Emilov Keremidarski

Diane Melde

Jemy Huang

A primary file can be used to specify default build properties for software under development. A set of modified build properties may be stored in a supplemental file. The default build properties can be temporarily overridden with modified build properties for a given build, allowing freedom in the choice of build properties without proliferation of files used for the same purpose, which can be confusing. In addition, users can create new build commands for software under development, and associate the new commands with supplemental files. When the user invokes a new build command, the build process can override the default properties with the modified properties in the supplemental file, and then restore the defaults. Other advantages and features of the invention are described below.

Systems and methods for varying software build properties using primary and supplemental build files

An extensible project system for software development is provided by allowing a flavor, with a specific purpose, to be applied to a base project system. More than one flavor may be applied. Where components are distributed objects, such as where COM (component object model) is used, the project system is assembled by aggregation of a base project object, which contains some data for creating a project system with a flavor object, which modifies the project system. The base project object is the participating object in the aggregation and the flavor object is the controlling object. Multiple flavors may be applied to create a project system intended for multiple purposes, corresponding to the applied flavors.

Reusable customized project system

Custom build tools are integrated into a design environment build process without writing code. Properties of the tool are defined in a file describing the appropriate syntax of the tool's command line. Values are specified for a particular use of the tool in a particular project. At runtime the command line for the tool is generated from the generalized syntax as defined in the file and the stored values.

Integration of external tools into an existing design environment

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Joshua Christopher Shepard