A system and method is described for managing plugin program components
through encapsulation in a self managing agent that supports introspection
for installation. An agent evaluator engine at the host machine
interrogates the introspective interface for the agent to determine what
resources are required by the plugin. In addition, the engine determines
what effect the plugin will have on the host system, and invokes the
installation logic which may be contained in the agent. Using the
introspective mechanism and installation logic, any changes in the plugin
(such as revisions) and the associated dependency changes can be readily
accommodated since only a single base of information and installation
logic, that which is contained within the enclosing agent, requires
modification.
