A material applicator, comprising: a printing device configured to deposit viscous material upon a circuit board; and a controller operatively coupled to the printing device and configured to control a plurality of system components including: an operating system component configured to operate the printing device; a remote interface component and at least two remote computers; and a network interface operatively connected to the controller and configured to be connected to a communication network, characterized in that the material applicator includes one of a stencil printer configured to deposit viscous material upon a circuit board and a dispensing machine configured to deposit the viscous material upon the circuit board, at least two plug-in applications reside on the at least two remote computers connected to the communication network, and the remote interface component is configured to exchange printer operation data between the operating system component and the two plug-in applications configured to extend capabilities of the operating system component; the plurality of system components further including means for arbitrating the exchange of printer operation data between the operating system component and the at least two remote computers. a printing device configured to deposit viscous material upon a circuit board; and a controller operatively coupled to the printing device and configured to control a plurality of system components including: an operating system component configured to operate the printing device; a remote interface component and at least two remote computers; and a network interface operatively connected to the controller and configured to be connected to a communication network, characterized in that the material applicator includes one of a stencil printer configured to deposit viscous material upon a circuit board and a dispensing machine configured to deposit the viscous material upon the circuit board, at least two plug-in applications reside on the at least two remote computers connected to the communication network, and the remote interface component is configured to exchange printer operation data between the operating system component and the two plug-in applications configured to extend capabilities of the operating system component; the plurality of system components further including means for arbitrating the exchange of printer operation data between the operating system component and the at least two remote computers. an operating system component configured to operate the printing device; a remote interface component and at least two remote computers; and a network interface operatively connected to the controller and configured to be connected to a communication network, characterized in that the material applicator includes one of a stencil printer configured to deposit viscous material upon a circuit board and a dispensing machine configured to deposit the viscous material upon the circuit board, at least two plug-in applications reside on the at least two remote computers connected to the communication network, and the remote interface component is configured to exchange printer operation data between the operating system component and the two plug-in applications configured to extend capabilities of the operating system component; the plurality of system components further including means for arbitrating the exchange of printer operation data between the operating system component and the at least two remote computers.