What type of code would be automatically generated if i may ask?
Statements, expressions, functions, classes, objects etc?

Actually it generates full java applications using hibernate, spring, java. So you have what's needed. from xml,jsp,java, and all methods required. Also it leverages hibernate reverse engineering technology to generate mapping files (don't know if you are familiar with hibernate). The short answer is that it generates ALL that is required for the app, since its template based, you can customize the output.

For example, I have some templates that generate database documentation.

Do you want this do be a website, or software that you can buy in a shop?
Tommy

CDMA online?

whats the difference i mean with this and your idea? and...

Inventors:
Fuchs, Emmanuel (Chatillon, FR)
Lacoste, Thierry (Versailles, FR)

Title:
Universal computer code generator
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 20020026632

Abstract:
This invention relates to a universal computer code generator. The generator comprises at least:one front end (FE) that creates an intermediate file (6) by a grammatical and syntactical analysis of the specifications file (4), the intermediate file comprising a syntactical tree (20, 30) describing data in the specifications file (4), all data extracted from this file (4) by front end (FE) being associated with a node (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) in the tree;a Template (3) defining programming rules associated with each node, as a function of the code to be generated (7);a back end (BE) generating the output code (7) by reading the intermediate file (6) and the syntactical tree.The invention is applicable particularly for automatic code generation, for example for translation of computer languages

????

First vanhees

This is software you will use online, wont receive a disk.

Saigon
Code generators have been around since the first years of computers. basically a code generator creates a new form of code based on specifications. A compiler is a form of code generator.

So my idea is not about code generating itself (and what seems to be the reinvindication of the patent), you will find hundreds, comercial, for inhouse use, etc.

My idea is precisely being able to use code generation ONLINE/web based, all products (afaik) are downloadable-I receive a disk type of software (vanhees question)

The product for which I will make a release in a couple of months, and been working for 4 years more or less, has a lot of features, and would be a bit difficult to explore or explain all of them here. But short answer in essence or purpose my code generator is no difference from other code generators out there, it is in features

...so whats are those features?

The most relevant features are:

1. You can use different types of models to create a program, normally a database design, this will not only use database, but web pages or xml documents, or java classes. The program will look at any of these models and will be able to generate a program or a component, or documentation or whatever other text output that can be infered from the model.

2. It was done to be very flexible, code generators, normally solve a few type of problems, this was done to be very configurable by the user, so in some sense, the system 'learns' new tricks, new ways of solving problems.

3. Its online no software to download, nor updates to make to your software.

I can't see how a system could infer functionality from database design, webpages or xml without using a pre-determined syntax. I would rather use visual tools to take some of the donkey-work of coding away such as yahoo pipes or popfly.net

Just an example, foreign keys. most if not all of those hint of fields that need to be reflected as combos in the UI, fk that are also primary keys, hint of child tables master-detail relationships that will require a list, and CR
UD, in all layers (DAO, service, UI, etc.)

Just checked popfly and yahoo pipes, and yes, they are visual, by tool is in a sense, but I dont see you using that in any application you will deploy in your company, nor do you get source code or else. Might be wrong in my assertions, Im open for more comments

Abstract to me

Could be done... but it doesn't sounds like a very good idea to me... Anyway, good luck with it!

I'm a nerd, you lost me.

Do you want an online version of enterprise architect with more language support?

yes, the thing is that this product is different in the respect that you dont have to do UML modeling, and all of that

I'm not sure I quite get the idea...

There are plenty of code LIBRARIES out there, so if I want a particular common feature I can easily download someone else's code and incorporate it into my own project, customising it as necessary, but I don't think that's quite what you're suggesting.

On the other hand there are high-level languages that automate many common processes, but that doesn't sound like this idea either - it sounds like what you're proposing is something between the two?

Forgive me if it's my own lack of understanding that's getting in the way; certainly I'm not familiar with some of the other names mentioned above.

I like it! Problem I see is that the program always lacks some feature that I am needing/wanting. How would you add in unexpected or unplanned for requests?

Ruby On Rails for example infers a great deal about design based on how tables and fields in a DB are named... But I don't see how you can proceed from pitching such a broad concept. Are you going to build this? Or pay someone else to build an "online code generator"? Hard problems like this, if solvable, are not easy to crowdsource while still in the conceptual stage.

PhilipH:

Libraries usually help to solve very discrete components (e.g. create a PDF document with this information, FTP this file, and so on), actually the CG leverages a lot of libraries, in a way incrementing the level of abstraction of the problem

bigtreehouse: There is not one code generator that solve all cases, so how to solve unexpected, new features not accounted for, well creating new templates, that you can use to solve new problems, in that way the code generator 'learns'. Also in all CG i've researched there is always a compromise knowing that eventually you will have to modify some come by hand (eg. by extending classes, or editing code)

GordonMcDowell:

Ruby on rails is a good example of 2 central concepts in this idea. 1 There is a ever growing need to produce code fast. 2) One way to be able to achieve 1) is inferring DB structure and making some assupmtions from there and produce a 80%-100% solution.

I've been building this for 4 years now, and was in search of a few ideas/validation of the concept. Probably wil make my first release in a month.

Will post the link when its ready, and expect all of those techies in the crowd to come back with comments

I believe the idea has merit and can see how it may be very useful in at least one specific situation. Having recently survived the startup to funding process myself, I'd suggest you work over the Value Proposition for your application and be sure to seek legal advise before you publish your release.

Are you looking only for validation at this point or are you interested in finding potential financial or other type of participation. What do you see as your next steps?