Using runtime models to unify and structure the handling of meta-information in reflective middleware

Abstract

Reflection plays an important role in the flexibilisation of middleware platforms. Through dynamic inspection, middleware interfaces can be discovered and invoked at runtime, and through adaptation the structure and behaviour of the platform can be modified on-the-fly to meet new user or environment demands. Metamodeling, on the other hand, has shown its value for the static configuration of middle-ware and other types of system as well. Both techniques have in common the pervasive use of meta-information as the means to provide the system's self-representation. However similar they are, these two techniques usually fall on different sides of a gap, namely development time and runtime, with little interplay between them. In this paper, we review our approach for the combination of reflection and metamodeling, presenting some concrete applications of the concept in the context of distributed systems middleware, as well as propossing further potential applications. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.