Method and apparatus for versioning and configuration management of object models

A tool for versioning and configuration management of object models in a computing system including a component container for grouping objects to form a component containing the objects, the objects having properties and associations and a configuration container for grouping the assembled components to form a configuration. Each component is assigned a version number upon creation whereupon subsequent versions, if any, of the component are derived directly or indirectly from an earlier version, the objects accessibly isolated within the assigned component versions except for inter-component associations established between compatible ones of the objects in separate but compatible components of the configuration, the associations forming the basis for assembling, managing and function of the configuration.