Methods, systems and computer program products for management of application programs on a network including a server supporting client stations are provided. The server provides applications on-demand to a user logging in to a client supported by the server. Mobility is provided to the user and hardware portability is provided by establishing a user desktop interface responsive to a login request which presents to the user a desktop screen through a web browser interface which accesses and downloads selected application programs from the server responsive to a request from the user on the user desktop screen at the client. The application program is then provided from the server and executed at the client. The application program may further be customized to conform to the user's preferences and may also provide for license use management by determining license availability before initiating execution of the application program. Finally, software distribution and installation may be provided from a single network management server.