Cataloging apparatus for facilitating the re-use of distributed objects in a distributed object system

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for selecting and reviewing a distributed object installed on a distributed object system is described. In one embodiment, the method of the invention includes generating a library of components corresponding to distributed objects on said distributed object system, including one component corresponding to the distributed object. Each of the components of the library includes information describing the distributed object to which the particular component corresponds. The contents of the library are displayed using a catalog interface device. The library is browsed using the catalog interface device to identify the component corresponding to the distributed object, and is selected. At least a portion of the information describing the distributed object is displayed.