International Business Machines Corporation

Marshall Lee Humphries

David Maxwell Cannon

Thiha Than

One aspect of the invention is a method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system. An example of the method includes receiving the policy definition, and accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system. This example also includes applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. This example further includes outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. Another aspect of the invention is a method for defining a policy used for management in a computing system.

Real-time feedback for policies for computing system management

A plurality of user defined schedules are received for collecting data on a plurality of resources. A schedule is generated for data collection on at least one resource, based on processing the plurality of user defined schedules to eliminate redundant data collection on the at least one resource. Operations are executed on the at least one resource in accordance with the generated schedule.

Generation of a master schedule for a resource from a plurality of user created schedules for the resource

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a plurality of resources are grouped into a plurality of groups, wherein one group may be included in another in the plurality of groups, and wherein the plurality of resources and the plurality of groups comprise items. A recursive determination is made of valid items in a group by excluding those items that have already been determined to be included in the group.

Resolution of group membership for resources

An interface definition that specifies the functionality of humanly accessed functions within a software program is parsed into statements by a parser in conjunction with a dictionary. The parsed statements are converted to formatted statements by a plurality of formatters resulting in expression of the interface definition in a plurality of selected formats. The selected formats comprise source code formats and various documentation formats. Files generated from source code formatters, such as 'C++' formatters, are included in the software build process and facilitate restricting software development to the specified functionality. Changes to the interface definition are propagated to the selected formats resulting in software functionality that is consistent with the various forms of documentation such as on-line help and printed documentation. The present invention was developed in response to the needs of multi-platform product development and facilitates timely and accurate coordination between software development and documentation efforts.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Marshall Lee Humphries