Method and system for installing software on a computer system

Abstract

A method and system for installing software on a computer generates an installation order that ensures that a component required for the functioning of another component is already installed. Furthermore, it makes possible generating good installation orders to allow related components, e.g., in a software suite, to be installed close together, thus reducing disk swapping. The method and system take into account the existing configuration on a computer and allow removal of components along with dynamic reconfiguration of a computing system in response to a user's choice of an application program to launch. In accordance with the invention, preferably a developer includes information about the component's relationship with other components, e.g., a specific requirement for a preinstalled component or a requirement that a particular component not be present, thus requiring its removal. To remove the possibility of a single identifier referring to more than one component, the preferred embodiments of the invention use globally unique identifiers to label individual components.