Abstract: A programming environment including a source code programming language comprising a plurality of programming constructs. A first set of constructs within the programming language are for expressing procedural operations performed on specified data. A second set of constructs within the programming language are for expressing complex data relationships of the specified data. A compiler receives programmed source code comprising user-selected and arranged portions of the first and second set of constructs and generating machine readable code capable of implementing the procedural operations and complex data relationships expressed by the source code.

Abstract: A method for aggregating distributed information from a plurality of data sources each having an address. A plurality of user criteria are received and site specific information describing idiosyncrasies of each data source are stored. A plurality of query messages are generated based upon the received criteria and the stored idiosyncrasy information. For each query message, a communication packet is generated comprising the query message and an address for the corresponding data source. A plurality of communication ports are created with each port associated with one of the communication packets. Each communication packet is sent over its associated port to the addressed data source.