Software Packaging

Abstract

Many computer programs cannot be easily integrated because their components are distributed and heterogeneous, i.e., they are implemented in diverse programming languages, use different data representation formats, or their runtime environments are incom patible. In many cases, programs are integrated by modifying their components or interposing mechanisms that handle communication and conversion tasks. For example, remote procedure call (RPC) helps integrate heterogeneous, distributed programs. When conf iguring such programs, however, mechanisms like RPC must be used explicitly by software developers in order to integrate collections of diverse components. Each collection may require a unique integration solution. This thesis describes a process called software packaging that automatically determines how to integrate a diverse collection of computer programs based on the types of components involved and the capabilities of available translators and adapters in an environment. Whereas previous efforts focused solely on integration mechanisms, software packaging provides a context that relates such mechanisms to software integration processes. We demonstrate the value of this approach by reducing the cost of configuring applications whose components are distributed and implemented in different programming languages. Our software packaging tool subsumes traditional integration tools like UNIX MAKE by providing a rule-based approach to software integration that is independent of execution environments. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-93-56)