A method for enabling a compiler or interpreter to use identifiers found at run time in a map container object in a manner similar or identical to identifiers declared at compile time is presented. More specifically, names defined in a map container object during the execution of a program are treated in a manner similar or identical to names defined in a programming namespace at compilation (or interpretation) time. The map container is applied to encapsulate a non-programming namespace application programming interface (API), so that names defined in a non-programming namespace can be treated in a manner similar or identical to names defined in a programming namespace at compilation (or interpretation) time.