1. A method implemented by data processing system that comprises a memory and one or more processors, the method comprising: locating a network application, from a plurality of network applications, based upon a network application pointer located in a header of an ingress data packet; executing the network application by at least one of the processors, wherein the execution of the network application further comprises performing one or more building block functions called by the network application to process the ingress data packet and generate one or more routing results; and routing, by at least one of the processors, the ingress data packet based upon the one or more routing results.