Multi-layered storage and management of software components

A computer-implemented software solution development system, comprising:

• a development environment for developing a software solution as a logical bundle of software components, the solution employed in a protected mode or an unprotected mode;
• a storage component of the environment for storing an association of a component definition with the solution as multi-row entities;
• a transition management component of the environment for managing changes in behavior in the software components based on state transition definitions;
• and
• a transport component for exporting differences in modifications to the solution and preventing a protected mode solution from being exported.

A computer-implemented method of developing software solutions, comprising:

• logically bundling software components as a solution;
• storing an association of a component definition with the solution as multiple rows in a table;
• tracking state of the solution by at least one of adding new rows or modifying existing rows in the table;
• managing solution tables using a state machine and state transition definitions;
• and
• managing access to the components according to protected and unprotected modes.