Abstract: A data processing method includes declaring a server semantic object that specifies an operation independent of implementation. The server semantic object is delivered to a set of clients in different hardware environments. Each hardware environment stores a client semantic object specifying processing operations that implement the operation associated with the server semantic object for the hardware environment. The server semantic object is combined with each client semantic object in each hardware environment to produce server semantic object data at each client. The server semantic object data is presented at each client in accordance with a common protocol observed by each client.