A method includes receiving, from one or more first applications, multiple indications that multiple first data items are available for processing. For each of the first data items, the method also includes (a) determining, using one or more of multiple data dependency rules, that a second data item is dependent for processing by a second application upon an availability of the first data item; (b) in response to the determination, changing a status of the first data item from unavailable to available for processing and/or changing a status of the second data item from unavailable to ready for processing; and (c) providing the status of the first data and/or the status of the second data item to the second application to enable the second application to process the second data item. Different data dependency rules are associated with different first data items and different second items.