1. A method of preserving a component relationship, the method comprising: receiving a first notification associated with at least a first direct component connection between a first component and a first instance of a second component; converting the first direct component connection to an implied component connection between the first component and the first instance of the second component using a processor; receiving a second notification associated with a second instance of the second component; and in response to the second notification, converting the implied component connection to a second direct component connection between the first component and the second instance of the second component using the processor.