Object orientation in heterogeneous distributed computing systems

The basic properties of object orientation and their application to heterogeneous, autonomous, and distributed system to increase interoperability ar examined. It is argued that object-oriented distributed computing is a natural step forward from client-server systems. To support this claim, the differing levels of object-oriented support already found in commercially available distributed systems-in particular, the distributed computing environment of the open software foundation and the Cronus system of Bolt Beranek, Newman (BBN)-are discussed. Emerging object-oriented systems and standards are described, focusing on the convergence toward a least-common-denominator approach to object-oriented distributed computing embodied by the object management group's common object request broker architecture.>