CONDITIONALLY RESERVING RESOURCES IN AN OPERATING SYSTEM

A facility is provided for conditionally reserving resources in an operating system. In various embodiments, the facility receives an indication of a conditional reservation declarator that identifies at least a resource, an action, a condition, and a principal. The conditional reservation declarator can specify a directive that corresponds to the identified resource, action, condition, and principal. The facility configures itself to apply the specified directive in relation to the identified action and resource when the principal attempts to perform the identified action in relation to the identified resource and the condition is met. The facility can apply the specified directive when it determines that the principal is attempting to perform the identified action on the identified resource when the condition is met.