A framework for flexible evolution in distributed heterogeneous systems

Abstract

Distributed, heterogeneous systems axe becoming very common, as global;zeal organizations integrate applications running on different platforms, possibly written in different languages. Certain requirements for such features as security, QoS, and flexible administration are specially critical to distributed heterogeneous systems. Unfortunately, such requirements axe often formulated late, since they depend upon a particular installation, and/or change rapidly with business and political climate. Distributed, heterogeneous systems axe particularly difficult to evolve, since the elements are written in different languages, and the operational environment is hetm-ogenvous and distributed.We would like to address this problem with solutions that are animated by practical software engineering goals: ~ype