A method, apparatus, and program product for designing, implementing, distributing, and deploying computer programs that consist of packaged knowledge components written in modem object oriented programming languages. A meta model defines a model for representing facts, intelligence, and packaging facts and intelligence into readily usable knowledge components implemented in off the shelf object oriented programming languages and tools. In addition, the meta model defines knowledge algebra to assemble and cascade knowledge components into larger and more powerful knowledge components and knowledge oriented software applications. A kernel is provided that links and executes knowledge components and knowledge oriented applications. The kernel dynamically links logical definition of knowledge components and the knowledge application to real implementations.