To execute legacy smart card applications in a next generation smart card environment, a mechanism converts the applications into a format executable by the next generation smart card platforms. For instance, in a Java-based environment, a normalizer tool translates a CAP file into a Java Class file. Additional mechanisms recreate, on next generation smart cards, a specialized environment that allows the legacy applications to execute without impacting legacy and non-legacy application performance. For example, mechanisms create new instances of previously shared objects so that legacy applications can continue to expect exclusive access to those objects. Moreover, mechanisms manage the communication between a legacy application and non-legacy applications by controlling how and when calls are sent to the legacy application.