A comparison framework for middleware infrastructures

Abstract

Middleware is a software layer standing between the operating system and the application, enabling the transparent integration of distributed objects. In this paper, we propose a framework that facilitates the comparison of middleware infrastructures. Our approach serves for identifying similarities and differences between middleware infrastructures and revealing their advantages and disadvantages when facing the question of choosing one that satisfies the application's requirements. Based on the proposed framework, we compare CORBA with J2EE and COM+, three of the most widely used infrastructures in both industry and academia.