Abstract: A cloud computing operating system is described. The system, in one aspect, includes a plurality of core data structures (100) each configured to define basic attributes that elements of the system contain. The system also including an indexing data structure (104) inherited from one of the core data structures (100) configured to index any number of core data structures (100) or elements inherited from a core data structure (100) and an encapsulating data structure (110) inherited from the indexing data structure (104) and configured to encapsulate any number of core data structures (100) or elements inherited from a core data structure (100). Each core data structure (100) is encapsulated within one encapsulating data structure and includes a reference to its encapsulating data structure. Other aspects of the cloud computing operating system are also described.