Source Code Module Coordination System for Conflict Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently managing and coordinating source code module changes across multiple developers and environments, leading to conflicts and impracticalities, especially when numerous changes are made to software code modules.
Innovation Solution
A back-end module coordination system that accesses an enterprise source code repository, provides interactive user interfaces to remote developers, and dynamically tracks changes with work request identifiers and release dates, allowing for accurate and efficient management of changes by associating modules with lock statuses to prevent conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional check-out system is used where only one developer can edit a module at a time, then conflicts between developers are prevented, but the process becomes impractically time-consuming and reduces productivity when multiple developers need to make changes simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the source code module into multiple versioned copies (e.g., v1.0, v1.1, v1.2) that can be edited simultaneously by different developers. Each developer works on a specific version without blocking others, allowing parallel development while maintaining conflict prevention through version isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages module versions and their relationships, automatically tracking changes and enabling flexible access patterns. The versioning mechanism adapts to different development scenarios, allowing developers to checkout specific versions for editing while maintaining an updated master copy, thus optimizing both conflict prevention and productivity.
2Reliability
If manual versioning and merging of code changes is performed, then change coordination is achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming especially when there are substantial numbers of changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages versioning, tracks changes, and maintains the relationship between different module versions without requiring manual intervention. The automated version control system handles the complexity of coordinating substantial numbers of changes, eliminating manual versioning tasks and reducing time loss while ensuring accurate change coordination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If developers create their own unique versions when checking out modules, then flexibility in development is improved, but merging these versions back into a common branch becomes problematic and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the development process into independent versioned branches that developers can create and modify freely. Each developer works on their own version (e.g., v1.1, v1.2) without affecting others, providing maximum flexibility. The segmented versioning structure simplifies merging by maintaining clear, isolated version boundaries that can be systematically integrated back into the master branch.
Data Source
AI summary
A source code repository data store may contain source code module components, and a communication interface may support user displays at remote developer devices. A module coordination system computer server may access an electronic work request record, associated with a work request identifier, a release date, and at least a first source code module component in the source code repository data store. A first remote developer device may establish a first user display including individual lines of code (where each line that has been changed since a previous release of the first source code module component is tagged with an associated work request identifier and is shown in association with a developer identifier). According to some embodiments, a first user display reflects all changes dynamically that have been made since the previous release of the first source code module component, including those with other developer identifiers and multiple release dates.