Integrated Development Environment

The PointDragon™ Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a productization of GraphLogic's patented Object Process Graph (OPG) technology.  A detailed description of the Object Process Graph is contained in a White Paper.  The IDE is composed of a graphical Graph Editor and a Runtime Engine.  It can be thought of as a high level design platform for complex, large-scale systems.  However, in a revolutionary departure from traditional environments, the IDE requires no manual or automatic code generation.  The IDE defines an Object Process Graph that is immediately interpreted and executed by the Runtime Engine.  As a result, the need for computer program coding skills - at any stage of the application life cycle - is completely eliminated.

The PointDragon™ IDE is a state-of-the-art Development and Computing Platform.  It provides end-user interface customization, dynamic annotation, security administration, auditing, and request or transaction management.  Tracking, management, and control of every single request or transaction is possible with PointDragon Engine.

The PointDragon™ IDE comes with every PointDragon™ custom application.  Access to the graphical Graph Editor is controlled by user security features.

The graphical Graph Editor

The PointDragon™ graphical Graph Editor is used to define and create the programming logic and data schemas typically associated with a computer application. All such information is contained within Object Process Graph structures.

GraphLogic software development is an integrated process. The Object Process Graph, a compilation of nodes and edges, is immediately executed. The user creates and modifies program logic while simultaneously viewing the working application via a web browser.

The PointDragon graphical Graph Editor is completely web based; only a web browser is required to run it. No other tools are necessary to build a PointDragon application. All aspects of the application, including the database schema, program logic, and user interface, are defined within the PointDragon IDE. A small set of general purpose components can be combined to create sophisticated and unique applications.

 

Node - not code

Methods, structures, tables, and data fields are defined graphically rather than with code. They encapsulate all of the power of the PointDragon IDE. The same type of nodes is used throughout a PointDragon application. This means that data is defined in exactly the same way if it's part of a user interface, program logic, or a persistent database. This uniformity reduces the complexity of learning PointDragon.

  • Easy Identification - Locate and understand program logic quickly through easily identifiable nodes
  • Changeability - Nodes are added, removed, and modified with ease
  • Simple and Complex - Quickly increase scale and breadth while maintaining the simplicity of an object model


Edges - not code

Edges create fast, precise, and reliable manipulation of data between operations, structures, arrays, and fields. They are used to define relationships among the nodes in an Application.

Eliminating code enables the following immediate advantages:

  • Versatility - Customize the manipulation of data between any object using well-defined execution types
  • Lucidity - Color coded edges provide quick and easy determination of data movement
  • Simple and Complex - Create discriminating manipulations and condition data movement without loss of clarity

 

Menus and Features

Every node and edge is uniquely defined by a properties table displayed within the Editor. Properties are yes/no options or open text fields for easy manipulation.

Integration

The PointDragon IDE allows for easy integration with legacy and third party systems. Supported standards and protocols include XML, REST, SOAP, CSV, and Excel. Relational databases are integerated using JDBC. Regardless of the interface or method of integration PointDragon provides a consistent development experience. Database tables may be defined and accessed simply and consistently using an RDBMS. The specific details of the RDBMS implementation are not important to the developer.

Outline and Navigation Tools

System generated outlines make navigating an application, process, operation, or structure easy and efficient. Nodes for both application and database are presented in tree format within the GraphLogic Navigator tab. An outline format for operation windows provides a quick and navigable view of structures.

Property, outline, and navigational tools offer customization and flexibility throughout the entire development and maintenance cycle of all PointDragon systems.


PointDragon™ Runtime

The PointDragon™ Runtime stores, interprets and runs all Object Process Graph (pat. 7,316,001) structures defining a complete application with associated instance data. No other commercial database is required to run OPG based applications. If needed, the runtime can access and store data from standard or relational databases as well.

End User Controlled Customization

PointDragon offers real-time, end user controlled customization of the entire web based GUI - every window, every field, and even newly added data fields. These features are unmatched in the industry.

PointDragon's unique WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor tool allows end users to:

  • Modify an application's GUI to suit personal needs
  • Create a customized GUI, run the application, and access data from the modified GUI in real-time
  • Add/Remove data fields unique to a particular process

No uploads. No compiles. No programming skills required.

Benefit: Increased productivity for both users and software engineers.

User and Data Specific Customizations

PointDragon's unique GUI customization capability provides an entirely new paradigm in which to modify workflows, data analysis pipelines, tracking systems, and integrated processes.

Say goodbye to rigid, pre-defined software systems. PointDragon systems are easily modified to keep pace with changes and address unique end user requirements.

A multi-step, multi-user workflow can be customized at every step by each individual end user.

Each user can:

  • Attach notes as data is:
    • collected
    • stored
    • modified
    • retrieved
  • Insert data field notations that are
    • part of the system, and
    • user specific
  • Add data structures to any window on-the-fly

Benefit: Customized interfaces for every user without alteration of the default GUI!

Security and Access Control

The PointDragon runtime offers unmatched control of security level access per data file, field, structure, and value - without special database definitions or predefined setups.

Enhanced security features are inherent to all GraphLogic systems.

Security and access levels can be set for:

  • Individual users
  • Specific classes
  • Specific methods within a class
  • Data structures, tables, fields, and values

Security capabilities are created and managed:

  • Without programming
  • Without specialized database administrators or software developers.
  • Without, though possible, a system administrator that controls access to work requests and data

 

Transaction Management

The PointDragon Runtime enables complete tracking, management, and control of every transaction created within the system.

Runtime's powerful yet practical management system allows users to:

  • Delete, move, and change transaction status
  • Bypass system administrators for data entry error

Runtime's backup and recovery system offers:

  • "Hot" backups
  • Transaction checkpoint recovery
  • System "shadowing" - down to the individual transaction level

Audit Trails

The PointDragon Runtime provides complete audit trails of all actions performed by all users of the system. Users, with appropriate security levels, can view

  • What changes were made
  • When each change was made
  • Where changes were made
  • How & by whom the changes were applied

Benefits of PointDragon's unique audit system:

  • Audit trails are immediately available on-line
  • Project leaders, system administrators, and IT staff have immediate access to the complete history of any data element