String fixedId = StringUtils.lowerCase(id);
fixedId = StringUtils.deleteWhitespace(fixedId);
// check if already exists
if (applications.containsKey(fixedId)) {
throw new ObjectAlreadyExistsException("Application with id '" + fixedId + "' already exists");
}
log.debug("adding application with id '" + fixedId + "'");
// create the ConnectorService instance and set the change listener