A computer program product and a system are provided for implementing the Hardware Platform Interface (HPI) specification for platform management of computer systems. Software, implemented by the computer program product includes a user library, a resource program, a domain program and a bridge program. The user library accepts calls from user application programs for accessing management data and management capabilities incorporated in a running instance of the resource program. The running instance of the resource program provides access to the management data and the management capabilities. This access is through restrictions to a set of running instances of the domain program. In addition, access to the user application programs is indirect through a set of running instances of the domain program. A running instance of the domain program provides access of a set of running instances of the resource program to a pre-defined set of user application programs, based on access restrictions defined for the domain program. The bridge program enables communication with remotely-connected computer systems.