What would you call such a Framework?

[Yogi Yang]

If this is posted in the wrong User Group please do point me to the
right one.

I saw a software which works like this:

There is a core EXE. This exe has all the code for connecting to
database, reading from DB, writing to DB, DB Engine base data
validation (validation for all those fields which have a required
property set in the database engine), Menus, finding interface,
Reporting and related handling, etc.

All the module are as ActiveX DLLs. These modules contain only a plain
Form, all the required functions (which are business logic related) -
they exist as methods and one resource file which contains an XML file
in which the Layout of controls on that form as well as field names
whose data should be loaded in a particular control, type of control,
fields whose values have to be used for lookup, etc. are stored/
defined.

Once these ActiveX DLLs are compiled and registered they are
automatically available in various menus and in the core EXE and when
the user clicks on a particular menu the form stored in the DLL
becomes Visible populated with all the controls in the exact location
that they have defined in the XML file which is actually compiled in
the ActiveX DLL itself, etc.

I was truly surprised by such a framework as I have never seen such a
thing. The productivity that they are able to achieve is just
tremendous. The company which is using this framework developing
business automation software (semi ERP like). And the Turn around time
for a project is just 1 months (with around 260 forms [ActiveX
Modules], 160 reports) for First Beta and 15 days for Final
version. :)

What can we call such type of framework?

The Core EXE is build in VC++ and all the modules are currently being
built in VB6 and Delphi(only two modules are in Delphi currently as
there are not good Delphi developers available in our area) .

Dose any know of any such framework in Delphi?

Regards,

Yogi Yang