Abstract: A system for reporting information about how selected components of an operating system are used by applications on a computing device. A manifest of components is provided from a management server to a computing device. The manifest specifies components of the operating system for which usage information is to be collected. The computing device surveys applications for calls to the components specified in the manifest. Surveys may be performed by static scanning and/or dynamic monitoring. In static scanning, application files are scanned for keyword strings specified in the manifest. Keyword string matches are recorded to a log file. In dynamic monitoring, calls from executing applications to components specified by the manifest are identified and logged. A report is generated from the log and sent to the management server. The management server then aggregates and analyzes reports from multiple computing devices to enable developers to assess how the components are being used.

Abstract: A computer with a platform that reduces cross-platform compatibility issues associated with executable computer components. A context for a component to be executed on a computer is detected. The context may be detected by searching metadata associated with the component and locating the context therein. If the context is not found in the metadata, then a context may be inferred in other ways, such as from a subsystem major/minor version. Execution of the component invokes one or more components of a computer operating system that provides a platform for executing operations that support execution of the component. Branch components present in the platform are used to select behaviors for the operations based at least in part on the detected context of the component. By providing a context-based selection from any of multiple targeted behaviors for an operation performed by the platform, cross-platform compatibility is improved.

Abstract: A system for reporting information about how selected components of an operating system are used by applications on a computing device. A manifest of components is provided from a management server to a computing device. The manifest specifies components of the operating system for which usage information is to be collected. The computing device surveys applications for calls to the components specified in the manifest. Surveys may be performed by static scanning and/or dynamic monitoring. In static scanning, application files are scanned for keyword strings specified in the manifest. Keyword string matches are recorded to a log file. In dynamic monitoring, calls from executing applications to components specified by the manifest are identified and logged. A report is generated from the log and sent to the management server. The management server then aggregates and analyzes reports from multiple computing devices to enable developers to assess how the components are being used.

Abstract: A computer with a platform that reduces cross-platform compatibility issues associated with executable computer components. A context for a component to be executed on a computer is detected. The context may be detected by searching metadata associated with the component and locating the context therein. If the context is not found in the metadata, then a context may be inferred in other ways, such as from a subsystem major/minor version. Execution of the component invokes one or more components of a computer operating system that provides a platform for executing operations that support execution of the component. Branch components present in the platform are used to select behaviors for the operations based at least in part on the detected context of the component. By providing a context-based selection from any of multiple targeted behaviors for an operation performed by the platform, cross-platform compatibility is improved.