1. A user process for managing runtime behavior characteristics of types and type members of a computer program in an environment, the computer program having a source code which is written in at least one data-typed programming language, the process comprising the steps of: a user obtaining from at least one digital storage device a directives document containing human-readable directives which are not interleaved with the computer program source code; and the user inspecting the directives document for directives, which are in a human-readable format that is also parsable by software, and which include at least one of the following runtime behavior characteristic directives: a directive that a type T of the computer program source code is a required type in the environment, a directive that a type T of the computer program source code is an optional type in the environment, a directive that a type T of the computer program source code is a prohibited type in the environment, a directive that a type member M of the computer program source code is a required type member in the environment, a directive that a type member M of the computer program source code is an optional type member in the environment, a directive that a type member M of the computer program source code is a prohibited type member in the environment, a directive that a degree D is enabled for a type T in the environment, a directive that a degree D is disabled for a type T in the environment, a directive that a degree D is enabled for a type member M in the environment, or a directive that a degree D is disabled for a type member M in the environment.