Patent attributes
Methods and systems that facilitate efficient and effective application program maintenance and patch distribution are described. A device comprises: a memory that stores application source code files and instructions for creating a hot patch file, wherein the application source code files include an update source code file and initial source code files before an application update; and a processor operable to create the hot patch file, wherein the hot patch file is created based upon differences between a pair of optimized source code file sets that result from optimization of a first set of the initial source code files and separate optimization of a second set of source code files; wherein the second set includes an update source code file and associated files selected from the first set based on results from a graph indicating manners in which said source code files related to one another.