Web Application Class File Hot-Swapping for Incremental Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deploying web application upgrades are inefficient, requiring extensive deployment processes that involve rebuilding the entire application, testing for compatibility, and rerouting traffic, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, especially for minor updates.
Innovation Solution
A method that isolates and updates specific class files, compiles and deploys only the modified class files to a dynamic configuration database, and uses a cron job processor to dynamically introduce the new binary code into the runtime environment, ensuring thread integrity and avoiding the need to restart the web server, allowing for incremental updates without rebuilding the entire application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire web application is rebuilt and deployed for every upgrade, then the application can be updated with new functionality, but the deployment time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the web application into individual class files that can be independently updated. Instead of rebuilding the entire application, only the specific class files that contain the upgrade changes are identified, compiled, and deployed. This segmentation allows incremental updates without requiring full application reconstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the modified class files from the full application package. The deployment process isolates and deploys only the necessary updated components rather than the complete application bundle, reducing deployment size and time while maintaining the ability to update the application functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire web application is rebuilt and deployed for every upgrade, then the application can be updated with new functionality, but the resource consumption and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The build and compilation process is segmented to compile only the modified class files rather than the entire application. This reduces computational resources required for compilation, as the compiler processes only the changed components instead of all application code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary compilation and deployment steps for the modified portions of the application. Instead of executing the full build pipeline for the entire application, the system performs partial compilation of only the affected class files, reducing overall resource consumption.
3Reliability
If traffic is routed away from datacenters during deployment, then the updated application can be deployed without service interruption, but the service level and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic class replacement at runtime. The system dynamically loads and replaces updated class files in the running application without requiring traffic rerouting or service interruption. This dynamic approach maintains service continuity while enabling seamless deployment updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous service operation during the update process. By enabling hot-swapping of class files and maintaining the application running throughout the deployment process, the system preserves continuous useful action (service provision) without interruption, unlike traditional approaches that require traffic routing away during deployment.
4Reliability
If the entire web application is rebuilt for every upgrade, then compatibility and correctness can be ensured, but the complexity of the deployment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment process is segmented into distinct phases: identifying modified classes, compiling only those classes, packaging the updated classes, and deploying to the runtime environment. This segmentation simplifies the overall complex process by breaking it into manageable, automated steps that can be executed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as the dynamic configuration database and class file metadata that mediate between the build process and runtime environment. These intermediaries automate compatibility verification and streamline the deployment process, reducing manual intervention and simplifying the overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for deploying a web application including a plurality of binary objects. The methods may include isolating from the plurality of class files a class file in which a run-time behavior occurs. The methods may include updating the class file to produce a modified class file that does not have the behavior. The methods may include testing performance of the modified class file. The methods may include storing the class file in a dynamic configuration database. The methods may include recognizing the modified class file as being modified. The methods may include, using a cron job processor, reading the metadata. The methods may include compiling the modified class file into binary code. The methods may include executing the binary code instead of a different binary code that corresponds to the class file in which the run-time behavior occurs.