Abstract: An operating system service for persistently executing programs comprises a registration service configured to register a manifest defining a persistence mode of a user-controllable program. The operating system service further comprises a runtime service configured, based on the persistence mode defined via the manifest, to detect and reject termination requests for the program, and to detect that the program has terminated and restart execution of the program.

Abstract: An operating system service for persistently executing programs comprises a registration service configured to register a manifest defining a persistence mode of a user-controllable program. The operating system service further comprises a runtime service configured, based on the persistence mode defined via the manifest, to detect and reject termination requests for the program, and to detect that the program has terminated and restart execution of the program.

Abstract: An operating system service for persistently executing programs comprises a registration service configured to register a manifest defining a persistence mode of a user-controllable program. The operating system service further comprises a runtime service configured, based on the persistence mode defined via the manifest, to detect and reject termination requests for the program, and to detect that the program has terminated and restart execution of the program.

Abstract: A computer device is provided that includes a processor and non-volatile memory including stored instructions executable by the processor, the stored instructions being configured to cause the processor to execute an operating system including an application programming interface for an on-demand installer that is callable by installed application programs during run-time. The on-demand installer is configured to receive a request from an application program to install a target resource package of the application program, query an installer server that is a source of an application program package of the application program to retrieve the target resource package from the installer server, and install the target resource package of the application program.

Abstract: A client computing device, including a processor and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may store instructions that cause the processor to receive an application program package. The application program package may include an application program package binary file and an application program package manifest file. The processor may install the application program package in the non-volatile memory at a file system location indicated in the application program package manifest file. The processor may receive a modification package including a modification package binary file and a modification package manifest file. The modification package manifest file may indicate the file system location. The processor may install the modification package in the non-volatile memory. Installing the modification package may include modifying the application program package binary file and/or the application program package manifest file based on the modification package binary file.

Abstract: A computer device is provided that includes a processor and non-volatile memory including stored instructions executable by the processor, the stored instructions being configured to cause the processor to execute an operating system including an application programming interface for an on-demand installer that is callable by installed application programs during run-time. The on-demand installer is configured to receive a request from an application program to install a target resource package of the application program, query an installer server that is a source of an application program package of the application program to retrieve the target resource package from the installer server, and install the target resource package of the application program.

Abstract: An operating system service for persistently executing programs comprises a registration service configured to register a manifest defining a persistence mode of a user-controllable program. The operating system service further comprises a runtime service configured, based on the persistence mode defined via the manifest, to detect and reject termination requests for the program, and to detect that the program has terminated and restart execution of the program.

Abstract: A computing system is provided that includes a distribution endpoint including one or more processors configured to receive a request from a developer computing device to update a program managed by the distribution endpoint, the program being previously packaged and signed. The one or more processors of the distribution endpoint are further configured to receive a code file including a change to the program, retrieve a package of the program that has not been updated with the change to the program, generate an updated package of the program by adding the code file to the retrieved package of the program such that the updated package of the program logically represents a package of the updated program, and distribute the updated package of the program to an end user computing device.

Abstract: A computing system is provided that includes a distribution endpoint including one or more processors configured to receive a request from a developer computing device to update a program managed by the distribution endpoint, the program being previously packaged and signed. The one or more processors of the distribution endpoint are further configured to receive a code file including a change to the program, retrieve a package of the program that has not been updated with the change to the program, generate an updated package of the program by adding the code file to the retrieved package of the program such that the updated package of the program logically represents a package of the updated program, and distribute the updated package of the program to an end user computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprises identifying, by an application platform operating on a device, one or more application stores and one or more applications operating on the device, the one or more application stores being configured as a respective source for each application operating on the device, determining one or more application store privileges for each of the one or more application stores operating on the device, each application store privilege providing a respective application store with management capabilities over the one or more applications, and performing, for each application store, one or more operations specific to the application store based on the one or more application store privileges and one or more application program interfaces (APIs) specific to the application store.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprises identifying, by an application platform operating on a device, one or more application stores and one or more applications operating on the device, the one or more application stores being configured as a respective source for each application operating on the device, determining one or more application store privileges for each of the one or more application stores operating on the device, each application store privilege providing a respective application store with management capabilities over the one or more applications, and performing, for each application store, one or more operations specific to the application store based on the one or more application store privileges and one or more application program interfaces (APIs) specific to the application store.