Deploying and distributing of applications and software components

摘要

A self-contained virtual file system is disclosed for deploying and distributing an application and/or software component. Executable files relating to the application are included in a distributable composite file. The composite file and a user front end application are deployed and distributed to an application user where the application is executed. An application provider can tag the composite file with the version information and other useful meta-data of the files for the application. The format of the composite file may support the storage of any kind of file types and associated meta-data. The composite file may contain the hierarchical directory structure of the files for the application so that the hierarchical directory structure is installed in the application user's electronic device.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
identifying, using a processor, an executable content file used by an application; storing the executable content file in a composite file, the composite file including a plurality of files used by the application; creating, using the processor, a virtual file system in the composite file, the virtual file system including the identified executable content file; generating, using the processor, component data that includes location information identifying a location of the executable content file in the virtual file system; creating, using the processor, at least one entry point in the composite file, the creating comprising:
generating code for a wrapper function based on an executable type of the application, wherein:
the generating produces an interface between the executable content file and the executable type of the application, andthe wrapper function redirects an execution of the composite file to the executable content file using the location information of the component data; and storing, using the processor, the code for the wrapper function in the composite file, wherein:
the code for the wrapper function is called when the composite file is executed, andthe code for the wrapper function redirecting the execution from the composite file to the location of the executable content file in the virtual file system.