Abstract: A system for building and installing custom application packages in a distributed computing environment that includes a server computer and a client computer coupled through a network. The server computer includes a storage media subsystem, a build subsystem, and a server package storage, all of which are coupled together. The client computer includes a storage media subsystem, an installation subsystem, and a local application package storage, all of which are coupled together. Application packages are created through the build subsystem by bundling one or more application modules and/or application executables together using and then storing the application packages in the server package storage. The application packages are then installed through the installation subsystem on the client computer in the local application storage. The present invention also includes a method for building and installing custom application packages on a client computer.