The design and implementation of Open ORB 2

Established middleware platforms such as CORBA and DCOM are not flexible enough to meet the needs of emerging distributed applications. This article discusses the architecture of Open ORB 2, a middleware platform based on reflection and component technology. Middleware has emerged as an important architectural component in modern distributed systems largely because it offers a high-level, platform-independent programming model that helps mask distribution problems. Examples of key middleware platforms include DCE, CORBA, DCOM,.NET, and the Java-based series of technologies, including RMI, Jini, and EJBs (for more information on these platforms, see the Middleware Platforms sidebar). Traditionally, developers have deployed such platforms in areas such as banking and finance to overcome heterogeneity and support the integration of legacy systems. More recently, however, developers have applied middleware technologies in a wider range of areas, including safety-critical, embedded, and real-time systems. It is now becoming apparent that middleware technologies cannot respond to such diverse requirements or technical challenges because of the limitations of the black-bo