11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: generating one or more entries in a directory for an application to be executed by a processor, and storing the one or more entries in a set of one or more registers, the one or more entries including one or more attributes for the management of the application, the one or more entries including an entry containing an identity of a host that is running the application; receiving a request from a program object of a first client of a plurality of clients, the request asking to connect the program object of the first client to the start up and control framework to manage the application, the request being received at an interface of a startup and control framework, the plurality of clients including the first client running on a first computer platform and a second client running on a second computer platform, the second computer platform being different than the first computer platform, the interface being compatible with both the first client and the second client; and providing information to the requesting client regarding the application via the set of one or more registers, the information being based on the one or more entries in the directory, the information comprising information regarding one or more attributes of the application; and managing the application under control of the program object of the first client via the startup and control framework utilizing the information provided via the set of one or more registers.
11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: generating one or more entries in a directory for an application to be executed by a processor, and storing the one or more entries in a set of one or more registers, the one or more entries including one or more attributes for the management of the application, the one or more entries including an entry containing an identity of a host that is running the application; receiving a request from a program object of a first client of a plurality of clients, the request asking to connect the program object of the first client to the start up and control framework to manage the application, the request being received at an interface of a startup and control framework, the plurality of clients including the first client running on a first computer platform and a second client running on a second computer platform, the second computer platform being different than the first computer platform, the interface being compatible with both the first client and the second client; and providing information to the requesting client regarding the application via the set of one or more registers, the information being based on the one or more entries in the directory, the information comprising information regarding one or more attributes of the application; and managing the application under control of the program object of the first client via the startup and control framework utilizing the information provided via the set of one or more registers. 13. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the request is generated by the program object of the first client.