A repository contains multiple versions of an object but only a single version of the object is supplied when a query is made. The single version is automatically selected from among a number of versions that are otherwise returned in response to the query, based on a configuration associated with a workspace in which the query originates. The selected version of the object is then presented in a version resolved view, without exposing any information related to versioning of the object. Specifically, a number of configurations are established, each configuration containing no more than one version of each object in the repository. However, only one configuration is associated with each workspace from which a query can originate. The configuration that is associated with the workspace depends on whether the workspace is to be used for design of the repository or for use of the repository during live operation. Specifically, a single configuration (hereinafter "design time" configuration) is commonly associated with the workspaces of all developers. When the developers decide that a set of objects in the repository is ready for use in live operation, the set of objects is "deployed" by copying the design time configuration to generate a new configuration (hereinafter "run time" configuration) that contains the most current versions of all objects (as present in the design time configuration). Any number of run time configurations can co-exist with each other and with the design time configuration.