1. A method of providing functions within an industrial automation system, the method comprising: providing functions of the automation system via web applications that are combinable by a client during control program execution to form interlinked web applications on a user interface of the client, wherein each web application comprises at least one application component that generates at least one component instance; providing access to the web applications via: a standard application programming interface that comprises a cross-component application programming interface configured to initialize and unload application components, and a component-specific application programming interface configured to handle one or more events and provide component functions; and assigning each of the application components metadata operative for declaring functions and dependencies, wherein: each application component comprises a data interface for data access by another application component, and the component instances are linked by an application programming interface configured to stipulate interactions between application components.