Augmented reality environments allow users in their physical environment to interact with virtual objects and information. Augmented reality applications are developed and configured to utilize local as well as cloud resources. Application management allows control over distribution of applications to select groups or all users. An application programming interface allows simplified control and distribution of tasks between local and cloud resources during development and post-development operation. This integration between local and cloud resources along with the control afforded by application management allows rapid development, testing, deployment, and updating of augmented reality applications.