Using *.msp and *.mca Startup Properties and Archives for fast loading and custom configuration.

When invoked over the net, the browser will use the HTTP protocol to typically get 2 files: the MINERVA machine itself and the MINERVA application program.

The MINERVA machine is provided by IF Computer as part of the MINERVA Application Server. The application program is a collection of files bundled into a *.mca MINERVA Compressed Archive file.

What goes into the archive file is decided by the MINERVA developper, written in a *.msp MINERVA Startup Properties file. The tool minervar is then used to create a *.mca Archive according to the specification given in its *.msp file.

To see how this works have look at the files in your MINERVA_HOME top level directory and at the *.html applet wrapper files throughout the ExamplePrograms section.