7. A method 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 at a server interface of a startup and control framework, the request being received from a program object of a first client of a plurality of clients, the received request asking to connect the program object of the first client to the start up and control framework to manage the application, 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 server interface being compatible with both the first client and the second client; 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 including 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.
7. A method 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 at a server interface of a startup and control framework, the request being received from a program object of a first client of a plurality of clients, the received request asking to connect the program object of the first client to the start up and control framework to manage the application, 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 server interface being compatible with both the first client and the second client; 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 including 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. 20. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more attributes includes one or more selected from the group consisting of: an attribute to identify a host that is running the application; an attribute to describe the current version of the application; and an attribute describing how a client may connect to the application.