An example method of interacting with a source object via a virtual object, the method includes associating a first set of properties of a virtual object with a second set of properties of a source object that is defined in a program. The method also includes defining a set of functions corresponding to the associated first and second sets of properties and receiving a first request to instantiate the virtual object. The source object is instantiated in response to the first request. The method further includes receiving a second request to perform an operation using the first set of properties of the virtual object and executing the set of functions in response to the second request. The method also includes updating the second set of properties of the source object in accordance with a result of the executed set of functions.