Abstract: The present invention is directed to techniques for servicing application software. Such techniques include the packaging of software application descriptions and related resources, and their distribution to target devices, like client devices. De-packaging the software packets by client devices is further described. A hierarchical approach to the packaging, distributing and de-packaging device-independent software applications is employed. The approach is based on having XML-based instructions configured to describe applications, where the application descriptions are agnostic of the client specific hardware and software capabilities of the client device on which the application description is to run. The packaged software application is configured to include the XML-based application description as well as relevant set of resources and attributes which will be required by the client device on receipt.