A
metadata validation process that allows for deferring
object model validation until after the objects are created. The process also allows for multi-threaded
processing of the validation rules, thus increasing overall performance. Validation is performed by enforcing a series of validation rules on an appropriate subject. Rules are specified according to the subject that they are validating (i.e.,
attribute level, association level,
object level or collection level). The
metadata driven validation process implements several validation types on different validation units.
Correctness validation rule types ensure that a validation unit satisfies all semantic rules defined for it. Completeness
validation rule types ensure that a validation unit contains all the necessary data and is ready for further use. At design time, only
correctness type validation is performed. Thus, the present invention advantageously allows for incomplete objects to be created at design time. The developer, however, in this case may opt to perform completeness validation at any time. In general, a developer may opt to perform completeness and / or
correctness validation at any time independent of deployment
processing. In another aspect, full validation (e.g., completeness and
correctness) is automatically performed on the objects during the process of creating a configuration prior to deployment.