A contract-based approach of resource-constrained software deployment

Abstract

Software deployment can turn into a baffling problem when the components being deployed exhibit non-functional requirements. If the platform on which such components are deployed cannot satisfy their non-functional requirements, then they may in turn fail to perform satisfactorily. In this paper we propose a contract-based approach of resource-constrained software deployment. We thus focus on a specific category of non-functional requirements: those that pertain to the resources software components need to use at runtime. Ultimately, our objective is to provide software components with means to specify their requirements regarding hardware and/or software resources, and to design methods and models for utilising this kind of information at any stage of a component’s life-cycle. The paper reports the design of JAMUS, an experimental platform we develop in order to support the deployment of mobile software components, while providing these components with guaranteed access to the resources they need. JAMUS implements a contract-based model so as to recognise and to allow for the requirements of components regarding resource access and consumption.