ATG products are packaged as a number of separate application modules. An application module groups application files and configuration files into a discrete package for deployment. Application modules exist in the ATG installation as a set of directories defined by a manifest file. When you assemble an application, these modules are automatically analyzed to determine the CLASSPATH, CONFIGPATH, and intermodule dependencies.
Application modules provide the following core features:
Application components are packaged in a simple, modular directory structure.
Modules can reference other modules on which they depend, and which can be automatically loaded.
The correct class path, CONFIGPATH, and main Java class for a given set of modules are dynamically calculated for both client and server.
Updated modules are automatically downloaded from server to client.
The basic module and update mechanisms rely on the standard JAR manifest format; for information, see the java.sun.com site.
This chapter includes the following topics:
