A method for generating a composite graphical user interface (GUI) based on interface elements of a referenced application, comprising: receiving , at one or more processors , a reference to application data of an application , wherein the application data includes interface elements of the application and a set of instructions to execute a function of the application ; causing display of a composite graphical user interface , GUI, at a display of a client device , the composite GUI including a sidebar element displayed at a portion of the display of the client device , the sidebar element including a presentation of a graphical icon representative of the application ; receiving, at the one or more processors , a selection of the graphical icon from the client device ; updating the display of the composite GUI at the client device to display the interface elements of the application associated with the selected graphical icon ; accessing a data repository associated with the application , the data repository including a data object that comprises data attributes; generating, by the one or more processors , an artifact that includes metadata associated with the data object presented at the client device , the artifact being a reference to the data object; and causing display of the artifact with the composite GUI ; wherein the data attributes include a data type identifier of the data object, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving a request to assign the artifact to a project from the client device , the project being a sharable object comprising one or more artifacts and enabling collaborative project development; receiving a distribution list that includes a set of network addresses of a set of client devices ; and distributing the project to the set of client devices . receiving , at one or more processors , a reference to application data of an application , wherein the application data includes interface elements of the application and a set of instructions to execute a function of the application ; causing display of a composite graphical user interface , GUI, at a display of a client device , the composite GUI including a sidebar element displayed at a portion of the display of the client device , the sidebar element including a presentation of a graphical icon representative of the application ; receiving, at the one or more processors , a selection of the graphical icon from the client device ; updating the display of the composite GUI at the client device to display the interface elements of the application associated with the selected graphical icon ; accessing a data repository associated with the application , the data repository including a data object that comprises data attributes; generating, by the one or more processors , an artifact that includes metadata associated with the data object presented at the client device , the artifact being a reference to the data object; and causing display of the artifact with the composite GUI ; wherein the data attributes include a data type identifier of the data object, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving a request to assign the artifact to a project from the client device , the project being a sharable object comprising one or more artifacts and enabling collaborative project development; receiving a distribution list that includes a set of network addresses of a set of client devices ; and distributing the project to the set of client devices . receiving a request to assign the artifact to a project from the client device , the project being a sharable object comprising one or more artifacts and enabling collaborative project development; receiving a distribution list that includes a set of network addresses of a set of client devices ; and distributing the project to the set of client devices . <EOS>