Method, system, program, and data structures for loading programs into a runtime environment

A method for installing components in a computer runtime environment, comprising:

• retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into memory;
• using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components for the kit file;
• loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein classes and interfaces called from programs executing in the runtime environment are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• storing the retrieved program components for the retrieved kit file in a file directory;
• and
• storing program components for the determined dependency kit files in the file directory, wherein the file directory includes a separate subdirectory for each kit file to store the program components for the kit file, wherein the name of the subdirectory indicates a name and version of the kit file.

A method for installing components in a computer runtime environment, comprising:

• retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into memory;
• using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components for the kit file;
• loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein classes and interfaces called from programs executing in the runtime environment are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• storing the retrieved program components for the retrieved kit file in a file directory;
• storing program components for the determined dependency kit files in the file directory;
• storing in the file directory a previously retrieved copy of the kit file;
• determining whether the retrieved kit file matches the previously retrieved kit file stored in the file directory;
• loading the program components from the file directory into the runtime environment if the retrieved and previously retrieved kit files match;
• and
• throwing an exception if the retrieved and stored kit files do not match.

A system for installing components in a computer runtime environment executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, comprising:

• a memory;
• means for retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into the memory;
• means for using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components external to the kit file;
• means for loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• means for determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• means for loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• and
• means for maintaining one kit object for each kit file, wherein one kit object is associated with each kit file and program components of the kit file loaded in the runtime environment, wherein the kit objects are used to determine how to resolve calls from the program components.

A program for use for installing components in a computer runtime environment executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, wherein the program is implemented in a computer readable medium and capable of causing a computer having memory to perform:

• retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into the memory;
• using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components external to the kit file;
• loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• and
• maintaining one kit object for each kit file, wherein one kit object is associated with each kit file and program components of the kit file loaded in the runtime environment, wherein the kit objects are used to determine how to resolve calls from the program components.

A program for use for installing components in a computer runtime environment executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, wherein the program is implemented in a computer readable medium and capable of causing a computer having memory to perform:

• retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into the memory;
• using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components for the kit file;
• loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• storing the retrieved program components for the retrieved kit file in a file directory;
• and
• storing program components for the determined dependency kit files in the file directory, wherein the file directory includes a separate subdirectory for each kit file to store the program components for the kit file, wherein the name of the subdirectory indicates a name and version of the kit file.

A program for use for installing components in a computer runtime environment executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, wherein the program is implemented in a computer readable medium and capable of causing a computer having memory to perform:

• retrieving a kit file including information on program components to load into the memory;
• using the retrieved kit file information to retrieve the program components for the kit file;
• loading the retrieved program components for the kit file into the runtime environment;
• determining whether there are dependency kit files associated with the retrieved kit file;
• loading program components for each determined dependency kit file in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• storing the retrieved program components for the retrieved kit file in a file directory;
• storing program components for the determined dependency kit files in the file directory;
• storing in the file directory a previously retrieved copy of the kit file;
• determining whether the retrieved kit file matches the previously retrieved kit file stored in the file directory;
• loading the program components from the file directory into the runtime environment if the retrieved and previously retrieved kit files match;
• and
• throwing an exception if the retrieved and stored kit files do not match.

A computer readable medium containing structures used for installing components in a computer runtime environment in a computer memory executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, wherein the data structures comprise:

• a kit file including information on program components to load into the computer memory, wherein the kit file information is retrieved to further retrieve the program components for the kit file, wherein the retrieved program components external to the kit file are loaded into the runtime environment;
• at least one dependency kit file associated with the retrieved kit file;
• program components for each determined dependency kit file loaded in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• and
• one kit object for each kit file, wherein one kit object is associated with each kit file and program components of the kit file loaded in the runtime environment, and wherein the kit objects are used to determine how to resolve calls from the program components.

A computer readable medium containing data structures used for installing components in a computer runtime environment in a computer memory executing at least one program calling classes and interfaces, wherein the data structures comprise:

• a kit file including information on program components to load into the computer memory, wherein the kit file information is retrieved to further retrieve the program components for the kit file, wherein the retrieved program components for the kit file are loaded into the runtime environment;
• at least one dependency kit file associated with the retrieved kit file;
• program components for each determined dependency kit file loaded in the runtime environment, wherein the classes and interfaces are resolved using the program components loaded into the runtime environment;
• and
• a file directory, wherein the retrieved program components for the retrieved kit file and dependency kit files are stored in the file directory, wherein the file directory includes a separate subdirectory for each kit file to store the program components for the kit file, wherein the name of the subdirectory indicates a name and version of the kit file.