Separate Comment Storage for Source Code Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current source code compilers and editors face issues with comments being in plain text, leading to unintended exposure to customers and language barriers within international programming teams, resulting in time-consuming translations and version conflicts.
Innovation Solution
Storing comments separately from source code and using filter information to control access and language customization, allowing for secure and language-specific comment management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If comments are stored in plain text within source code, then programmers can easily access and edit comments, but customers can read unintended comments and language barriers arise in international teams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates comments from source code into a distinct storage structure. Comments are stored in a separate comments file or database table that is linked to source code elements, allowing independent management of comments while maintaining association with specific code portions. This segmentation enables controlled access to comments without exposing them in plain text within the source code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (comments file or database table) that mediates between programmers and comments. This intermediary structure allows programmers to access comments through controlled interfaces while preventing direct exposure of comments in source code files, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all comments are translated into one common language or all languages, then international teams can understand each other's comments, but this process is time-consuming and increases version conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables different language versions of comments to be stored locally for different user groups or regions. Each comment can have multiple language variants associated with it, and the system can serve the appropriate language version based on the user's preferences or locale settings, eliminating the need for universal translation while maintaining language compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal comment storage system that can handle multiple languages simultaneously. The comments database structure is designed to accommodate multilingual comments, allowing a single source of truth to serve international teams in their respective languages without requiring separate translated versions of source code.
3Reliability
If comments are stored separately from source code, then access control can be implemented and source code integrity is maintained, but additional storage and retrieval mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the comment storage system with the existing source code management infrastructure. Comments are stored in database tables that are integrated with the source code repository, and retrieval mechanisms are combined with the existing code editing and display functions. This integration reduces the perceived complexity by utilizing existing system components rather than introducing entirely separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for providing comments within source code. For providing access management to the comments, in one aspect, the comments are stored separately from the source code, the comments are retrieved from the storage medium, and the retrieved comments are displayed with the source code. In certain aspects, filter information may be stored with one or more comments and the comments may be provided based on filter information. The filter information may be used to block a requesting user from having access to certain comments. Access authorization information may also be used to control access to the comment information.