Method for serializing, compiling persistent textual form of an object-oriented database into intermediate object-oriented form using plug-in module translating entries according to grammar

Abstract

A method and system for customizing the transformation of an object-oriented database to and from a grammatical form. A grammatical form is an expression of an object-oriented database in a textual form according to a grammar. The transformation customizer is a plug-in which provides translation of primitive data types to and from complex data types for compilation and serialization processes. A complex data type is defined in terms of one or more primitive data types. One or more values in the object-oriented database are expressed in terms of the complex data type. During serialization, the plug-in module is invoked. The plug-in understands both the complex data type and the primitive data types. The values from the object-oriented database are translated from the complex data type to the primitive data types. For customizing compilation, one or more values expressed in terms of the primitive data types are translated to the complex data type when the plug-in is invoked. The object-oriented database is an object-oriented configuration database which stores configuration parameters pertaining to the software and hardware of a computer system, such as application programs, device drivers, system services, and other components. The object-oriented database is platform-independent and is therefore configured to be hosted on several different operating systems and computing platforms.