1. A method comprising: storing configuration settings, in a grid computer network, used to control and customize a plurality of applications operating in the grid computer network; generating, in a computer system in the grid computer network, a proxy layer including a definition scheme that: describes names of the configuration settings by defining configuration element entries that correspond to the configuration settings, one of the configuration element entries being an application-specific configuration element entry and corresponding to one of the configuration settings used to control and customize a specific application from the plurality of applications; and links the application-specific configuration setting with an application-specific access handler, the access handler directly linked and providing access to the application-specific configuration setting; accessing the application-specific configuration element entry in the definition scheme such that the application-specific configuration element entry directs the access, via the application-specific access handler, to the application-specific configuration setting; and customizing the specific application by using the accessed application-specific configuration setting.