From remote objects to physically distributed objects

Present-day object-oriented middleware provides little support for the distribution, replication and caching of the state of a distributed object. This makes these platforms unsuitable for the development of large-scale distributed applications. We argue that the model of distributed objects on which these middleware platforms are based hinders the addition of comprehensive distribution and replication support to these platforms. We present an alternative view of distributed objects, in which objects are not only in control of the functional aspects of their implementation but also in control of their nonfunctional aspects, in particular the distribution and replication of their state. We claim that a middleware platform based on this view of distributed objects is better suited for developing the large-scale applications of the future.