Developers of situational applications - applications created by a small group of users/developers to satisfy the specific needs of the group - require two things from their software stack. First, they require support for their rapidly changing designs; second, they require semantics that are close to their own domain of expertise. For example, developers of situational applications prefer to use scripting languages because the "duck typing" style of programming language allows them to ignore issues related to class inheritance or interface implementation. In comparison to strongly-typed languages, developers can begin programming more quickly, and can modify their program more rapidly in response to changing requirements.
In this paper we explore whether middleware services can similarly provide developers of situational applications with these desired software characteristics. Specifically, we present EDS, an Extensible Data-Service designed to support applications whose design changes rapidly and with semantics that are closer to the domain expertise of situational application developers. We present the features of EDS, contrast it to other data services and apis, and discuss the EDS implementation.
By: Avraham Leff; James T. Rayfield
Published in: RC24770 in 2009
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE:
This Research Report is available. This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). I have read and understand this notice and am a member of the scientific community outside or inside of IBM seeking a single copy only.
Questions about this service can be mailed to reports@us.ibm.com .