Replication groups for content libraries

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions for synchronizing content libraries in replication groups within a distributed computer system, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computer system causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

• defining a replication group of content libraries, the replication group including a master content library and at least one subscribed content library, wherein the master content library is associated with another subscribed content library that does not belong to the replication group;
• modifying contents of the master content library, the master content library including at least one consumable software item and metadata of the at least one consumable software item;
• detecting a trigger event by the master content library;
• in response to detecting the trigger event, transmitting, from a content library management module of the master content library, a synchronization control signal to a subscribed content library management module of each subscribed content library in the replication group to initiate a synchronization procedure;
• after receipt of the synchronization control signal, receiving the metadata of the at least one consumable software item from the master content library at each subscribed content library in the replication group;
• for each subscribed content library in the replication group, analyzing the metadata of the at least one consumable software item from the master content library to determine any content differences between the master content library and that subscribed content library;
• modifying contents of the at least one subscribed content library in accordance with the content differences between the master content library and that subscribed content library to synchronize the contents of that subscribed content library to the contents of the master content library, and
• for the another subscribed content library that does not belong to the replication group, executing a synchronization process to synchronize the contents of the another subscribed content library to the contents of the master content library only when initiated by the another subscribed content library.

A distributed computer system comprising:

• memory;
• at least one processor that is configured to:
• define a replication group of content libraries, the replication group including a master content library and at least one subscribed content library, wherein the master content library is associated with another subscribed content library that does not belong to the replication;
• modify contents of the master content library, the master content library including at least one consumable software item and metadata of the at least one consumable software item;
• detect a trigger event by the master content library;
• in response to detecting the trigger event, transmit, from a content library management module of the master content library, a synchronization control signal to a subscribed content library management module of each subscribed content library in the replication group to initiate a synchronization procedure;
• after receipt of the synchronization control signal, receive the metadata of the at least one consumable software item from the master content library at each subscribed content library in the replication group;
• for each subscribed content library in the replication group, analyze the metadata of the at least one consumable software item from the master content library to determine any content differences between the master content library and that subscribed content library;
• modify contents of the at least one subscribed content library in accordance with the content differences between the master content library and that subscribed content library to synchronize the contents of that subscribed content library to the contents of the master content library;
• and
• for the another subscribed content library that does not belong to the replication group, execute a synchronization process to synchronize the contents of the another subscribed content library to the contents of the master content library only when initiated by the another subscribed content library.