public static function reset() {
        $factory = self::instance();
        $factory->reset_cache_instances();
        $factory->configs = array();
        $factory->definitions = array();
        $factory->definitionstores = array();
        $factory->lockplugins = array(); // MUST be null in order to force its regeneration.
        // Reset the state to uninitialised.
        $factory->state = self::STATE_UNINITIALISED;
    }