A data-driven global registry method for use to extend a framework in an object oriented programming (OOP) based computer system is provided. The method includes providing a new class defined in a shared class library which has data members and member functions related to a particular task. In addition, a new class attributes file which specifies attributes associated with the new class is generated. The new class attributes file is placed in a global registry configuration directory in a computer system such that a plurality of client applications can access the global registry configuration directory to determine if the new class has been installed in the class library. In an alternative embodiment, an object-based global registry method is provided. In addition, a storage device readable by a computer system for implementing either OOP-based global registry method and OOP-based global registries themselves are provided.