Introduction

Abstract

The field of distributed systems is characterized by rapid change and conflicting ideologies, approaches and vested interests. In its short history it has seen a number of different paradigms gaining interest and adoption before being vanquished by newer, more virile, movements. However, when a technology fades from the limelight, it often re-emerges at a later date under a new banner. As a result, there is a continuous intermixing of core, reusable concepts, with new innovations.

In the 1990s, there were two primary approaches to distributed systems. The Web represented a human-oriented, distributed information space rather than a computing program [1]. On the other hand, distributed object technologies such as CORBA [2] and DCOM [3] were primarily attempting to create distributed environments that seamlessly emulated local computer applications while providing the benefits of access to networked resources. But despite the initial vision of the Web as a space which many would contribute to, publishing became the preserve of the few with most users merely accessing data, not creating it. Meanwhile distributed object systems were growing in terms of their capabilities but becoming more heavyweight, proprietary and complex in the process.