execls
Execls are a theoretical format intended to package executable class definitions and their runtime metadata in a single artifact. The term merges executable code (exe) with class definitions (cls) and is used to describe components that can be loaded and run by a compatible runtime without exposing source code. Proposals around execls envision self-contained units that carry the code for one or more classes, a bytecode or intermediate representation, a manifest describing version, dependencies and entry points, and a small runtime environment for loading, reflection, and invocation.
A typical execl artifact would include: class definitions, a class metadata table, a dependency graph, a policy
Current status: execls are not an established standard. They appear in academic proposals and experimental toolchains
See also: class file, module, plugin architecture, WebAssembly, bytecode, component model.