System for object oriented dynamic linking based upon a catalog of

Abstract

A system is provided for managing code resources for use by client applications in a computer, wherein the computer has internal memory storing at least one client application. The apparatus comprises a resource set catalog stored in the internal memory. The resource set catalog identifies a plurality of function sets of functions by respective function set IDs. Further, the resource set catalog includes set records which characterize the functions within the respective sets. A dispatch engine, in the internal memory, linked with a client application, supplies a particular function set ID in response to a call by the client application of a particular function which is a member of a corresponding function set identified by the particular function set ID. A lookup engine in the internal memory, coupled with the resource set catalog and the dispatch engine, is responsive to the particular function set ID to look up a set record for a corresponding function set in the resource set catalog. Finally, a link engine in the internal memory and coupled with the dispatch engine returns the particular function to the client application in response to the set record. Thus, because the link engine is responsive to the set record, which is not linked with the client, the client need not be aware of changes in the structure of the library in which the particular function set resides. Thus, the function set can be moved into and out of internal memory, revised, placed in different sections of internal memory, and otherwise handled independently of the client, without requiring re-compilation of the client application.