Customization of metadata describing objects in a computing environment

1. A computer-implemented method of customizing metadata in a software system, comprising

receiving a customization specification identifying a desired customization to the metadata wherein receiving the customization specification includes identifying a conflict by receiving a plurality of conflicting customization specifications;

identifying the metadata to be customized in a metadata store based on the specification;

storing a separate delta value, separate from the identified metadata, indicative of a customization to the metadata to be made based on the customization specification;

Retrieving the delta value when accessing the metadata to be customized;

Resolving the conflicting customization specifications; and

Replacing the metadata to be customized with the delta value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein customizing the metadata comprises:

replacing already existing metadata with the delta value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein customizing the metadata comprises:

adding the delta value to the metadata.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the delta value comprises:

storing the delta value in a metadata store that stores the metadata.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata is stored in a metadata store and wherein storing comprises:

storing the delta value in a separate data store, separate from the metadata store.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata is represented by a metadata tree structure having leaves with values indicative of metadata values.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein identifying comprises:

identifying a leaf in the metadata tree structure that is to be customized based on the customization specification.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein storing the delta value comprises:

storing a new value for the identified leaf.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein replacing the metadata to be customized with the delta value comprises:

replacing the value for the identified leaf, with the new value for the identified leaf, in the metadata tree structure.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises a plurality of metadata nodes, each having a node type, and wherein identifying the metadata to be customized comprises:

identifying a node of metadata to be customized for each of the customizations based on the customization specifications.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving a plurality of conflicting customization specifications comprises:

receiving the plurality of customization specifications that specify a different customization to an identified node.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one conflict resolution policy is associated with each node of metadata, and wherein resolving the conflict comprises:

applying the conflict resolution policy associated with the identified node.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the conflict resolution policies are associated with metadata nodes based on node type.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein resolving the conflict comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of customization specifications to apply.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein resolving the conflict comprises:

selecting portions of each of the plurality of customization specifications to apply.

16. A computer-implemented method of customizing metadata in a software system, comprising:

receiving a plurality of conflicting customization specifications identifying a plurality of conflicting desired customizations to the metadata;

identifying the metadata to be customized in a metadata store based on the specifications;

applying a conflict resolution rule associated with the metadata to be customized;

storing a separate delta value, separate from the identified metadata, indicative of a change to the metadata to be made based on the customization specifications and the conflict resolution rule; and

by replacing the metadata to be customized with the delta value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the metadata comprises a tree having nodes, the nodes having node types and wherein the metadata to be customized corresponds to a node.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein applying a conflict resolution rule comprises:

identifying the conflict resolution rule based on the node type of the node corresponding to the metadata to be customized; and

applying the identified conflict resolution rule.