Software architectures, platforms, and data constructs are disclosed which
provide a system for enabling a non-technical or lay user to perform
discrete technical tasks necessary to build a complete network-based,
multiuser application. The system also allows the user to have a uniform
user experience throughout development of the application. For example,
the platform can be used to construct and maintain an Internet or online
Web site capable of handling e-commerce transactions or can be used to
develop a customer relationship management system. A software
architecture is described that enables many users to perform a variety of
tasks via a wide-area network, such as an enterprise network or the
Internet. The architecture has several services, systems, and an
extensible database for storing data objects. The database has an
underlying structure referred to as a schema that can be extended with
previously undefined attributes without having to alter the basic format
of the schema. The architecture also includes an integrated platform that
enables each of the users to perform the tasks by controlling interaction
or communication between the services and systems, and the extensible
database.