METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RUNNING AN APPLICATION IN A CLEAN OPERATING ENVIRONMENT USING A LAYERED COMPUTING SYSTEM

The disclosure is directed to computing systems that provide access to the content of layers. Layers may include, for example, application layers, baseline layers, data layers, patch layers, application patch layers, and sublayers. Prioritization schemes, including prioritization by layer type, by assigned priority weights, by access type, by sub-layers and by read-write indicators are provided. Layers may contain file reference information including exclusion or inclusion entries indicating what files may be written. Paths recorded in layers may also embed variables to true paths on a layered system. Detailed information on various example embodiments are provided in the Detailed Description, and the invention is defined by the appended claims.