1. A method of executing an application for a user on a computer system executing an operating system, comprising: allocating a first amount of space, in a memory previously allotted to the user by the operating system, to at least one buffer having operating parameters maintained by the user, and a second amount of space in main memory to alternative subroutines that mimic operating system subroutines and perform at least one of input and output; intercepting input/output requests to the operating system by a software application initiated by the user; and replacing each intercepted input/output request with an alternative request to at least one of the alternative subroutines that mimic the intercepted request.