Fast application streaming using on-demand staging

A method, implemented by a computer system that includes one or more processors, for performing on-demand file staging, the method comprising:

• identifying a virtual software application that is to be accessed by the computer system;
• detecting that the virtual software application is attempting, for a first time, to access a data file located at a server computer server remotely from the computer system;
• in response to the first time attempt to access the emote-data file, creating a sparse data file at the computer system, wherein the sparse data file includes at least a file name and a file size that is created in a directory structure stored by the computer system;
• in response to a call for the data file by a local file system of the computer system, returning a positive reply that the data file exists locally on the computer system even though it does not yet exist locally on the computer system;
• and
• in response to a request for particular data contained in the data file, subsequent to the sparse data file being created, streaming the particular data from the server computer system to the computer system.

One or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by one or more processors of a computer system and that cause the computer system to perform on-demand file staging by causing the computer system to:

• identify a virtual software application that is to be accessed by the computer system;
• detect that the virtual software application is attempting, for a first time, to access a data file located at a server computer system remotely from the computer system;
• in response to the first time attempt to access the data file, create a sparse data file at the computer system, wherein the sparse data file includes at least a file name and a file size that is created in a directory structure stored by the computer system;
• in response to a call for the data file by a local file system of the computer system, return a positive reply that the data file exists locally on the computer system even though it does not yet exist locally on the computer system;
• and
• in response to a request for particular data contained in the data file, subsequent to the sparse data file being created, stream the particular data from the server computer system to the computer system.