Patent ID: 6948163

Claim:
In a computer system having a repository and a host for accommodating source and target files, a computer implemented method for building a file at the host, said method comprising the steps of: determining if a repository target file is up-to-date with respect to a repository source file on the repository, said repository source file and said repository target file corresponding to the file, said determining step comprising at least the steps of: obtaining a repository source build indicator associated with said repository source file and a repository target build indicator associated with said repository target file; and determining if said repository target file is up-to-date with respect to said repository source file based on said repository source build indicator and said repository target build indicator; if said repository target file is not up-to-date with respect to the repository source file: identifying as a build source file a source file that matches said repository source file, said identifying step comprising at least the step of: selecting said build source file from either a host source file residing on the host or said repository source file residing on said repository, said selection based on said repository source build indicator and a host source build indicator associated with said host source file; and building an updated build target file at the host based on said build source file; wherein said selecting step comprises at least the steps of: determining if said host source file is up-to-date with respect to said repository source file based on said repository source build indicator and said host source build indicator; retrieving said repository source file from said repository if said host source file is not up-to-date; and selecting said retrieved repository source file if retrieved, otherwise selecting said host source file.