Patent attributes
A method and mechanism for automatically patching software implementations such as applications as they are installed from an external source. A patch program is run for a software implementation that is advertised as available, or is otherwise available, though not yet installed (or fully installed). The mechanism maintains the patch information for that software implementation. Whenever the software implementation is installed, the mechanism determines that the software implementation has the patch information maintained therefor. The mechanism automatically applies the patch as part of the on-demand installation process. The patch may change the files, the values of registry entries and/or the installation logic associated with the software implementation.
