A CORBA extension for intelligent software environments

We describe the implementation of a technology that achieves system-wide pr operties in large software systems by controlling and modifying inter-compo nent communications. Traditional component-based applications intermix the code for component functionality with support for systematic properties. Th is produces non-reusable components and inflexible systems. The Object Infr astructure Framework (OIF) separates systematic properties from functional code and provides a mechanism for weaving them together with functional com ponents. This allows a much richer variety of component reuse and system ev olution. Key elements of this technology include intercepting inter-compone nt communications with discrete, dynamically configurable "injectors", anno tating communications and processes with additional meta-information. and a high-level, declarative specification language for describing the mapping between desired system properties and services that achieve these propertie s. We have implemented these ideas in a CORBA/Java framework for distribute d computing, and are currently applying them to a distributed system for th e analysis of aerospace design (wind-tunnel and CFD) data. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.