A Note on Distributed Computing

Retrieved on 29 December 2016 from http://web.archive.org/web/20161230044518/http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2010/cs4210_fall/papers/smli_tr-94-29.pdf Abstract: We argue that objects that interact in a distributed system need to be dealt with in ways that are intrinsically different from objects that interact in a single address space. These differences are required because distributed systems require that the programmer be aware of latency, have a dif- ferent model of memory access, and take into account issues of concurrency and partial failure. We look at a number of distributed systems that have attempted to paper over the distinction between local and remote objects, and show that such systems fail to support basic requirements of robustness and reliability. These failures have been masked in the past by the small size of the distributed systems that have been built. In the enterprise-wide distributed systems foreseen in the near future, however, such a masking will be impossible. We conclude by discussing what is required of both systems-level and application-level program- mers and designers if one is to take distribution seriously.