A computer application program executing on a computer, such as a portable computer,
is selected for termination by first identifying computer application programs
executing on the computer. A priority value is assigned to each of the identified
computer applications. The priority value is based on multiple characteristics
of the identified computer application programs. The computer application program
with the smallest priority value is automatically terminated. If the computer application
program with the smallest priority value is in a modal state in which it waits
for a response from a user, then a default response is provided to the application
prior to terminating the computer application program. The characteristics associated
with the computer application programs may include average launch times, average
memory usages, a class or type of application, frequencies of usage, and an amount
of data stored on the computer by the computer application program.
