1. A method for use by an operating system executing on at least one computer that is configured to operate applications in a foreground mode of operation and a background mode of operation, the method comprising acts of: accessing an application to be loaded for operation by the operating system, the application including at least one foreground component and at least one background component that is decoupled from the at least one foreground component; identifying the at least one foreground component of the application that, when loaded, causes the application to be operated in the foreground mode; identifying the at least one background component of the application that, when loaded, causes the application to be operated in the background mode; identifying a specification within the application that specifies information that is usable by the operating system to separately load and manage at least one foreground component and the at least one background component; determining whether to load the at least one foreground component and the at least one background component in a same process or in different processes; and loading the at least one foreground component for execution separately from the at least one background component in the same process or in the different processes based on the determination.