Patent attributes
In a network computing environment with a distributed software system utilizing Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), a Universal Client and Consumer tool that creates Client and Consumer implementations for use in interacting with any existing Servers and/or Suppliers in the system, and displaying the data resulting from the interactions for the purpose of validating the operation, functionality and performance of the Servers and Suppliers. The tool creates a graphical user interface for the user to select Servers or Suppliers to evaluate. The tool identifies the Server or Supplier IDL interface, and then creates either a Client or Consumer Implementation that uses the same corresponding IDL interface. The tool then attempts to connect to the Server or Supplier and where appropriate allow the user to invoke methods. Data received from the Servers and/or Suppliers is displayed on a video device and logged for later analysis.