1. A method for developing a user interface for a web-based software application, the method comprising: maintaining in a computing environment a library of executable code modules, wherein each executable code module represents one or more user interface controls; maintaining on the computing environment a web-based visual development environment operable to access the library to retrieve therefrom the executable code modules maintained in the library; receiving a request from a client computer to render the web-based visual development environment thereon to create the user interface for the web-based software application; rendering the web-based development environment on the client computer such that identifiers of the one or more user interface controls are displayed on the client computer for selection by a user for placement on the user interface for the web-based software application; receiving selection of an identifier for a first of the one or more user interface controls as the user interacts with the web-based development environment over the network connection; in response to the received selection, retrieving the executable code module associated with the first user interface control from the library; and storing the executable code module associated with the first user interface control in source code embodying the web-based software application.