Packaging multiple groups of read-only files of an application's components into multiple shared libraries

A computer comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory being encoded with:

• a first plurality of instructions to automatically prepare a plurality of executable files, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files, each executable file comprising an array, the array having sufficient space to accommodate at least the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;
• a second plurality of instructions to automatically overwrite the array in said each executable file with data from the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;
• and
• an application program comprising a plurality of instructions to set up an index indicative of presence or absence of said each executable file, in a computer executing said application program.

An apparatus for packaging multiple groups of read-only files, the apparatus comprising:

• means for automatically preparing a plurality of executable files, each executable file corresponding to a group of read-only files, each executable file comprising an array, the array having sufficient space to accommodate at least the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;
• means for automatically overwriting the array in said each executable file with data from the group of read-only files corresponding to said each executable file;
• and
• a memory encoded with an application program comprising a plurality of instructions to set up an index indicative of presence or absence of said each executable file, in a computer executing said application program.