Pattern.Oriented.Software.Architecture.Volume.4.pdf

Distributed computing is connecting the world and leveling playing fields [Fri06]. The ubiquity of the Web and e-commerce today exem- plify a common motivation for distributed computing: the ability to connect to and access vast quantities of geographically dispersed information and services. The popularity of instant messaging and chat rooms on the Internet underscores another common motiva- tion: staying connected to family, friends, colleagues, and customers. Other motivators for distributed computing include enhancing per- formance, scalability, and fault tolerance, as well as reducing costs by sharing expensive hardware and peripherals.