1. A method of utilizing a layered computing environment to create a program product, the method comprising the steps of: utilizing a computing environment including layered system software, the layered system software being executable to perform at least the functions of: (i) receiving from applications a read request for a read operation to a file system, the read request containing a file reference appropriate to the file system organization, (ii) a first determining whether or not the file reference is maintained in at least one enabled layer, (iii) if in the first determining a file reference is found not to be maintained in at least one enabled layer, causing the read operation to execute using the file reference of the read request, (iv) if in the first determining a file reference is found to be maintained in at least one enabled layer, identifying an owner layer from the set of enabled layers, (v) following the identifying an owner layer, identifying a virtual read reference utilizing information contained in the layer, (vi) following the identifying a virtual read reference, causing the read operation to execute using the virtual read reference, (vii) receiving from applications a write request for a write operation to a file system, the write request containing a file reference appropriate to the file system organization, (viii) a second determining whether or not the file reference is a reference to a write operation to be captured in an enabled layer, (ix) if in the second determining a file reference is determined not to be a reference to a write operation to be captured to an enabled layer, causing the write operation to execute using the file reference of the write request, (x) if in the second determining a file reference is determined to be a reference to a write operation to be captured to an enabled layer, identifying a capture layer, (xi) following the identifying a capture layer, creating a virtual write reference corresponding to the file reference of the write request, (xii) following the creating a virtual write reference, causing the write operation to execute using the virtual write reference, (xiii) receiving management commands through an applications programmer interface, those management commands including commands to start and stop a capture operation; entering a capture mode; performing an installation action; ending a capture mode; and exporting the captured layer to a portable media format.