Highly componentized system architecture with loadable virtual memory manager

The present invention is directed to a loadable virtual memory manager, and generally to a computer operating system capable of supporting application programs running in a computer having a working memory, the computer operating system including a kernel resident in the working memory at run time, and a loadable virtual memory manager resident at link time outside of the working memory and dynamically loadable into the working memory at run time upon demand of one of the application programs. The kernel includes a loader for loading the virtual memory manager into the working memory in response to a demand from one of the application programs. The computer is able to access a storage memory separate from the working memory, the loadable virtual memory manager residing at link time in the storage memory. The loader loads the virtual memory manager from the storage memory to the working memory. The loadable virtual memory manager is removable from the working memory upon lack of demand therefor by the application programs.