Extension point declarative registration for virtualization

摘要

An extension point virtualization system uses operating system-provided reparse points to provide minimal extension point registration. Reparse points preserve application isolation while removing the scale problem of writing custom extension point proxies for each extension point. Instead, the system can use a single file system filter that generically handles application virtualization reparse points, and store reparse point data for extension points that need redirection. Many extension points can be handled by redirecting the operating system from a typical location for an application resource to a virtualized safe location for the application resource. Thus, the system simplifies the process of handling new extension points by allowing an application virtualization system to simply register new locations that should be handled with reparse points and to then handle registered locations generically.

主权项

1. A computer system for generically handling virtualization of operating system and application extension points, the system comprising:
a processor and memory configured to execute software instructions; an extension point identification component configured to identify extension points through which an operating system or application can be extended by third party programmatic code; an extension point data store configured to store identified extension points in a declarative format; an application virtualization environment configured to provide a level of indirection between a virtual application and a host operating system; an extension point registration component configured to detect installation of a virtual application package that references an identified extension point; a reparse point creation component configured to create a reparse point for an identified extension point pointing to the detected virtual application package that references the identified extension point, wherein the reparse point prevents the virtual application package from modifying the operating system directly; an extension point access component configured to detect access of the created reparse point and invoke an extension point redirection component; and an extension point redirection component configured to cause the host operating system or an application to look for specified data referenced by a reparse point in a location associated with the detected virtual application package.