Methods and systems for managing application performance in a distributed computing environment. Embodiments commence when an application seeks to perform a function over a content object. The application submits a request to perform the function on the content object, and the request is received by an application programming interface processor. The application programming interface processor accesses a data structure comprising entries that relate the requested function to one or more code instances that are accessible at one or more code locations. An evaluator predicts performance of the function using a first location of a first code instance and compares that predicted performance to a predicted or measured performance of the same function using a second location of a second code instance that implements the same function. The better performing code instance at the determined code location is invoked. Results are collated, formatted, and returned to the calling application.