13. A method for displaying an object created by an application program running under an operating system, by reproducing the behavior of legacy AWT-based controls by switching between swing controls, using at least one of a system of software components stored on a computer-readable medium, which can be invoked during runtime to generate a graphical representation of the object that is substantially independent of the operating system, the method performed by the application program and comprising: activating a first swing proxy component of the system of software components to dynamically generate a first graphical representation of the object during runtime; monitoring the mode of use of the object; and upon detecting a change in the mode of use of the object, if it is detected that the activated proxy is not capable of supporting the new mode of use, deactivating the first swing proxy component and activating a second swing proxy component of the system of software components to dynamically generate a second graphical representation of the object during runtime, wherein the second graphical representation is distinct from the first.
13. A method for displaying an object created by an application program running under an operating system, by reproducing the behavior of legacy AWT-based controls by switching between swing controls, using at least one of a system of software components stored on a computer-readable medium, which can be invoked during runtime to generate a graphical representation of the object that is substantially independent of the operating system, the method performed by the application program and comprising: activating a first swing proxy component of the system of software components to dynamically generate a first graphical representation of the object during runtime; monitoring the mode of use of the object; and upon detecting a change in the mode of use of the object, if it is detected that the activated proxy is not capable of supporting the new mode of use, deactivating the first swing proxy component and activating a second swing proxy component of the system of software components to dynamically generate a second graphical representation of the object during runtime, wherein the second graphical representation is distinct from the first. 21. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the application program is written in Java programming language.