Abstract: Methods and apparatus for descriptively representing an application programming interface and data of a networked software application, and a descriptive domain specific language are presented. Additionally, methods and apparatus for mashup creation, including a repository of networking or Web applications that may be reused and combined, are presented. Networked software applications and mashups are provided with mostly declarative common structure and design, facilitating sharing and reuse of mashup and mashup parts. For example, a method for representing a first application programming interface of a first networked software application includes forming a declarative representation of the first application programming interface, and forming a declarative representation of first data. The first networked software application comprises the first application programming interface and the first data.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for monitoring and maintaining a cluster of virtual machines. The cluster contains one or more pairs of a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, in which each machine of a pair monitors the other one machine of the pair. When a first virtual machine identifies that its corresponding second virtual machine is not operating properly, the first virtual machine automatically requests that a system-management entity restart the second machine. If a certain number of restart attempts fails to restore the second machine to desired functionality, the first virtual machine automatically requests that the system-management entity recreate or reprovision the second virtual machine from a prior backup. If a certain number of such attempts fail, a system administrator is automatically notified that further action is needed.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for monitoring and maintaining a cluster of virtual machines. The cluster contains one or more pairs of a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, in which each machine of a pair monitors the other one machine of the pair. When a first virtual machine identifies that its corresponding second virtual machine is not operating properly, the first virtual machine automatically requests that a system-management entity restart the second machine. If a certain number of restart attempts fails to restore the second machine to desired functionality, the first virtual machine automatically requests that the system-management entity recreate or reprovision the second virtual machine from a prior backup. If a certain number of such attempts fail, a system administrator is automatically notified that further action is needed.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for increasing resiliency of a distributed computing system. A processor creates a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, each of which monitor the other. When the first virtual machine identifies that the second virtual machine has become unavailable or is otherwise compromised, the first virtual machine automatically requests that a system-management entity restart the unavailable machine. If a certain number of restart attempts fails to restore the second virtual machine to desired functionality, the first virtual machine automatically requests that the system-management entity recreate or reprovision the second virtual machine from a prior backup. If a certain number of such recreations or reprovisionings attempts fails, a system administrator is automatically notified that further action is needed.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for increasing resiliency of a distributed computing system. A processor creates a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, each of which monitor the other. When the first virtual machine identifies that the second virtual machine has become unavailable or is otherwise compromised, the first virtual machine automatically requests that a system-management entity restart the unavailable machine. If a certain number of restart attempts fails to restore the second virtual machine to desired functionality, the first virtual machine automatically requests that the system-management entity recreate or reprovision the second virtual machine from a prior backup. If a certain number of such recreations or reprovisionings attempts fails, a system administrator is automatically notified that further action is needed.

Abstract: Mashup creation, through the reuse and combination of existing networking or Web applications, are presented. For example, a method for forming a networked software application on a first computer resource coupled by a network to a client computer of a user includes accessing, within a repository that is part of the first computer resource, a first networked software application part, forming, within the first computer resource, a second networked software application part, and providing the second networked software application part to the repository. The second networked software application part comprises a first element of the first networked software application part. The steps of accessing, forming and providing are performed using the first computer resource comprising the repository. The first and the second networked software application parts remain on the first computer resource, and separate from the client computer, during the forming of the second networked software application part.

Abstract: A method for managing complex payload using on a point of sale (POS) printer is described. The complex payload includes a plurality of commands. The method includes organizing at least a portion of the commands into a single entity. The single entity corresponds to more than one command, though need not contain all of the commands. The method also includes providing a payload identifier corresponding to the single entity. The payload identifier indicates a correspondence between the commands for the single entity and the single entity.

Abstract: Mashup creation, through the reuse and combination of existing networking or Web applications, are presented. For example, a method for forming a networked software application on a first computer resource coupled by a network to a client computer of a user includes accessing, within a repository that is part of the first computer resource, a first networked software application part, forming, within the first computer resource, a second networked software application part, and providing the second networked software application part to the repository. The second networked software application part comprises a first element of the first networked software application part. The steps of accessing, forming and providing are performed using the first computer resource comprising the repository. The first and the second networked software application parts remain on the first computer resource, and separate from the client computer, during the forming of the second networked software application part.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for descriptively representing an application programming interface and data of a networked software application, and a descriptive domain specific language are presented. Additionally, methods and apparatus for mashup creation, including a repository of networking or Web applications that may be reused and combined, are presented. Networked software applications and mashups are provided with mostly declarative common structure and design, facilitating sharing and reuse of mashup and mashup parts. For example, a method for representing a first application programming interface of a first networked software application includes forming a declarative representation of the first application programming interface, and forming a declarative representation of first data. The first networked software application comprises the first application programming interface and the first data.