Unclogging distributed computing: once new software is in place, thousands of dispersed computers of various brands will be able to talk to (and understand) each other
Article Abstract:
It is increasingly evident that the need in today's networked computing systems is for a flexible, efficient and secure computing environment that interconnects diverse systems and applications. The Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) represents an impressive effort to achieve interoperability among heterogenous devices. DCE was developed by the Open Software Foundation (OSF), which is a industry-sponsored research organization with more than 330 members. OSF's vendors, end users and research institutions have concentrated their attentions on four problem areas: diverse operating environments; large numbers of interconnected computers; the need for security; and the need to provide for growth and new applications. It is estimated that 70 percent of vendors of microcomputers and workstations are now incorporating DCE into their products. The need for 'open' systems is increasingly pressing in the 1990s as local area networks (LANs) interconnect, creating networks that may contain thousands of computers. Aspects of distributed computing that are described and discussed include: OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) standards, which define networking protocols between systems, and IEEE Posix standards, which define interfaces for applications; global naming conventions; and RPCs (remote procedure calls).
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1992
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Expert opinion: software productivity under the microscope
Article Abstract:
International competition in the software industry is growing, even though 40 percent of the software operating in the world originated in the US. Within the US, over 95 percent of the installed software originated in the US. International outsourcing of software is being pursued by India and Russia; arrangements are being made for development work with US software consumers. Geographic separation is a problem because management information systems domain normally requires close daily contact between clients and developers. Systems products that do not require close proximity between developers and users, such as PBX, process control and embedded applications, may be practical for outsourcing overseas. Quality concepts included in the international standards - ISO 9000 through ISO 9004 - are at least 10 years behind the state-of-the-art.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1993
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