Just-in-time activation and as-soon-as-possible deactivation of server application components

A run-time environment implemented as system services and component integration interfaces provides scalable and robust component-based server applications by deactivating server application components between uses by a client program on separate items of work while allowing the client program to retain references to server application components when deactivated. When a server application component is deactivated, a data state of the component and any resources held by the component are released. The run-time environment activates a component on receiving a call by the client to the component while the component is deactivated, whereupon the component is instantiated with an initial data state. The client can interact with the component as if one instance of the component were in continuous existence from the time the client requests creation of the component until the client finally releases the component reference, whereas in actuality the client accesses a sequence or stream of instances using the component reference through multiple iterations of the activation and deactivation cycle.