Highly componentized system architecture with object mutation

Abstract

In accordance with another aspect, the invention is embodied in a computer operating system capable of supporting plural objects running in a computer having a working memory, the computer operating system including a kernel resident in the working memory at link time, and a loadable mutation object resident at link time outside of the working memory and dynamically loadable into the working memory at run time upon demand of one of the application programs, the mutation object including an interface with methods for mutating any one of the plural objects. The kernel includes a loader for loading the mutation object into the working memory in response to a demand from one of the plural objects. The computer further includes a storage memory separate from the working memory, the loadable mutation object residing at link time in the storage memory. The loader loads the mutation object from the storage memory to the working memory, and the loadable mutation object is terminable from the working memory upon lack of demand therefor by the plural objects. Preferably, the kernel of the operating system includes a Namespace for registering the mutation object upon the mutation object being loaded into the working memory, whereby the mutation object becomes available to each of the plural objects through the Namespace.