ToolTwist Software Development Solution

Repository Based

ToolTwist developed applications make strong use of generic code - application logic that can be reused in multiple places throughout the application. For example, most of the database access code and screen code is generic.

Such generic code has the ability to change what it does, based upon definitions (sometimes known as meta-data) stored in the ToolTwist repository. The repository consists of external definitions in XML files that are manipulated by the ToolTwist web based tools.

The advantages of this approach are many:

• Much of the functionality of the application can be produced without writing any code.
• Since there is less program code, the application and customizations are easier to maintain.
• Generic code is used repeatedly throughout the application. Any bug in generic code will result in errors in many places throughout the application. Repetitive errors are easily detected and rectified, and as a result the application is more reliable.
• Customizations can be made overriding definitions in the repository, rather than modifying source code.

The repository based application approach is one of the reasons why Tooltwist applications can be developed so quickly, yet still be easily customised.