Artifact management for an extensible runtime environment

A solution for managing a set of artifacts for a runtime environment is provided, which enables improved tooling that supports runtime extensions to a runtime environment. In one embodiment, an extension handler is obtained for a runtime extension to the runtime environment. The runtime extension comprises a program code that can be included in the runtime environment to extend the default capabilities of a runtime engine/framework. The extension handler provides tooling support for extension artifacts that use/require the runtime extension. When a tooling request for an extension artifact is obtained, the tooling request is processed using the extension handler. In this manner, a tooling solution is shielded from needing to know the specifics of the extension artifact or corresponding runtime extension. Similarly, the developer of the extension handler for the runtime extension is shielded from needing to know any specifics of the tooling environment. As a result, the invention provides a tooling solution that is extensible to support the tooling requirements of an extensible runtime engine.