Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for use in network-centric computing for scripting user-interface components together on an as-needed basis for purposes of executing a software application preferably stored on a server. The application may be called from a container/desktop of a client which in turn launches a script. The script may be stored on a server, on the desktop, or on a removable media, such as an optical or magnetic diskette. The script determines each task to be performed in the application and calls each node associated with the tasks. The script further verifies the policies of the container/desktop with respect to invoking, initializing, and executing the node. Once a task has been performed on the client, the script determines the next node, if any, and may discard the previous node in accordance with the policy framework of the container/desktop. In this way, applications can be performed in a myriad of computing devices, some having little or no memory, by downloading to the client only those user-interface components needed for a particular task to be performed.