In a computer system providing an application authoring and distribution environment, a method of creating and distributing multiple versions of an application characterized by:selecting an audience qualifier having a plurality of categories within the audience qualifier;selecting at least a first one and a second one of the plurality of categories within the selected audience qualifier;in the authoring environment:from a master application template, creating for each of the first one and second one of the plurality of categories at least one application instance having a specified appearance and behavior, wherein the appearance and behavior of each application instance are determined at least in part by characteristics of the associated first one or second one of the plurality of categories; andassociating metadata with each application instance specifying the audience qualifier and category corresponding to the application instance; andin the distribution environment:storing the application instances associated with the first one and second one of the plurality of categories with the associated metadata;receiving a request for an application instance specifying an audience qualifier and a category;selecting, from between the application instances stored in the distribution environment, an application instance having metadata corresponding to the specified audience qualifier and category noted in the request; andsupplying the selected application instance in response to the request.
