A metadata-based application model for software systems provides for the
integration and storing of application metadata with the application
itself effectively replacing the system registry. In calling or updating
the application components or modules, queries to the metadata within the
application folders returns references to the files with metadata that
matches the query. The component or modules are called or updated within
the file using the returned reference. The present invention also
provides a data structure comprising a data field for the application
code and another field for the metadata.