A computing device and method for coordinating the development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions. A first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment is provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the first development pattern module for guiding a user interface with a plurality of predefined steps to coordinate a development of the application components through user input events via the user interface in accordance with the first pattern.