Distributed Objects
and Components
A Deep Dive into the Building Blocks of Distributed Systems
Bejaoui Ahmed
Plan
• Key Concepts in Distributed Systems
• Distributed Objects
• Distributed Components
• Middleware for Distributed Objects and Components
• Challenges in Distributed Systems
• Design Patterns for Distributed Systems
• Case Study: Microservices Architecture
• Security Considerations in Distributed Systems
• Future Trends in Distributed Systems
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Introduction
Distributed Systems are systems composed of multiple
independent computers that communicate and coordinate
their actions to achieve a common goal.
Parallel and distributed systems
Examples: Cloud computing, e-commerce platforms, real-time
multiplayer games.
Why Distributed Systems?
Scalability, Reliability, Performance, Geographic Distribution
Distributed Objects and Components
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Real-world Examples of Distributed Systems
E-commerce Platforms: Handling millions of transactions per day.
Parallel and distributed systems
Social Media Platforms: Processing billions of posts and interactions.
Cloud Storage Services: Storing and retrieving vast amounts of data.
Real-time Multiplayer Games: Coordinating actions of players across
different locations.
Distributed Objects and Components
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Key Concepts in Distributed Systems
Client-Server Architecture:
Clients request services from servers.
Parallel and distributed systems
Servers provide services to clients.
Example: Web applications
Peer-to-Peer Architecture:
Nodes act as both clients and servers.
Direct communication between peers.
Example: BitTorrent
Distributed Objects and Components
Middleware:
Software that facilitates communication and interaction between distributed
components.
Examples: CORBA, DCOM, RMI
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Distributed Objects
Definition: Software objects that can be accessed and invoked remotely.
Characteristics:
Parallel and distributed systems
Location transparency, Remote invocation, Object-oriented programming
paradigm
Advantages:
Modularity, Flexibility, Scalability
Distributed Objects and Components
Example: Remote Object Invocation (RMI) in Java
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Distributed Components
Definition: Self-contained software units with well-defined interfaces.
Characteristics:
Parallel and distributed systems
Reusability, Deployability, Versioning
Advantages:
Rapid application development, Reduced development costs, Increased
maintainability
Example: COM+ in Microsoft .NET
Distributed Objects and Components
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Middleware for Distributed Objects and Components
CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture):
Platform-independent middleware.
Supports interoperability between different programming languages.
Parallel and distributed systems
DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model):
Microsoft's middleware for distributed object computing.
Tightly integrated with Windows operating systems.
Distributed Objects and Components
RMI (Remote Method Invocation):
Java-specific middleware for distributed object communication.
Simple to use and provides strong security features.
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Challenges in Distributed Systems
Network Latency: Delays in communication between nodes.
Fault Tolerance: Handling failures of components or network connections.
Parallel and distributed systems
Security: Protecting data and preventing unauthorized access.
Concurrency Control: Managing simultaneous access to shared resources.
Distributed Objects and Components
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Design Patterns for Distributed Systems
Publish-Subscribe: Components publish events, and other components
subscribe to receive notifications.
Parallel and distributed systems
Remote Procedure Call (RPC): A mechanism for invoking procedures on
remote machines.
Message Queues: A temporary storage area for messages.
Load Balancing: Distributing workload across multiple servers.
Distributed Objects and Components
Caching: Storing frequently accessed data in memory for faster retrieval.
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Case Study: Microservices Architecture
A software development is a technique that structures an application as a
collection of loosely coupled services.
Parallel and distributed systems
Key Characteristics:
Small, independent services.
Organized around business capabilities.
Deployable independently.
Distributed Objects and Components
Benefits:
Scalability, Flexibility, Fault isolation
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Security Considerations in Distributed Systems
Authentication and Authorization: Verifying user identities and granting access
to resources.
Parallel and distributed systems
Encryption: Protecting data confidentiality.
Secure Communication Protocols: Ensuring secure data transmission.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems: Detecting and preventing
Distributed Objects and Components
attacks.
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Future Trends in Distributed Systems
Cloud Computing: Leveraging distributed systems for scalable and flexible
computing resources.
Parallel and distributed systems
Microservices Architecture: Breaking down applications into small, independent
services.
Serverless Computing: Executing code without managing servers.
Edge Computing: Processing data closer to the source for real-time applications.
Distributed Objects and Components
Blockchain: Decentralized and secure distributed ledger technology.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Distributed Systems: Enabling
intelligent and autonomous systems.
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Conclusion
Distributed systems are essential for building scalable, reliable, and efficient
applications.
Parallel and distributed systems
Understanding the concepts of distributed objects and components is crucial for
software architects and developers.
By addressing challenges like network latency, fault tolerance, security, and
concurrency control, we can build robust and resilient distributed systems.
Distributed Objects and Components
As technology continues to evolve, distributed systems will play an increasingly
important role in shaping the future of software development.
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References
• Tanenbaum, A. S., & Van Steen, M. (2007). Distributed Systems: Principles and
Paradigms. Pearson Education.
• Coulouris, G., Dollimore, J., & Kindberg, T. (2012). Distributed Systems:
Parallel and distributed systems
Concepts and Design. Addison-Wesley.
• Foster, I., & Kesselman, C. (2003). The Grid: Blueprint for a New Computing
Infrastructure. Morgan Kaufmann.
• Kleppmann, M. (2017). Designing Data-Intensive Applications. O'Reilly Media.
• Microservices.io
Distributed Objects and Components
• Martin Fowler's Blog
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