1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a virtual machine, a request to perform an initial function of an application and an executable file for the application, the application including one or more instructions for a particular programming platform; modifying, by the virtual machine, the executable file by: redirecting the executable file to a custom runtime library that is different from a standard runtime library for the particular programming platform, the custom runtime library including a custom function configured to initialize the application and to place the application in a paused state; and adding, in the executable file, a custom function call to the custom function; and initializing, by the virtual machine, the application by executing the modified executable file, the executing causing the custom function to initialize the application and place the application in a paused state whereby the application waits for data specifying one or more additional functions of the application to perform using the particular programming platform.