System and method for software patching for cross-platform products

A method for patching applications, comprising:

• deploying a patch package on a first computer running a first type of operating system,
• wherein the patch package comprises a patching mechanism and a first set of one or more new code components, and
• wherein the patching mechanism is executable on the first computer running the first type of operating system to install the first set of one or more new code components and is also executable on a second computer running a second type of operating system to install one or more new code components;
• wherein the patching mechanism and the first set of one or more new code components are deployed together on the first computer as part of the same patch package;
• and
• executing the patching mechanism on the first computer,
• wherein executing the patching mechanism comprises the patching mechanism performing a replacement of a first set of one or more old code components in a first application with the first set of one or more new code components.