Gravity: supporting dynamically available services in client-side applications

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a project, called Gravity, that is providing support for building client-side applications out of dynamically available building blocks. The purpose behind this work is not only to deal with real-world issues already facing developers and end-users, but to also work toward a grander vision. In this vision, applications are built using context-aware architectures, meaning that context (e.g., location, environment, user task) is used as a filter to determine which building blocks are relevant to the application at any given time. The main concept underlying this vision is dynamically available building blocks, i.e., building blocks that can appear or disappear at any time. The Gravity technology described in this paper is a starting point for such research.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.6 Programming Environments
          Subjects: Graphical environments

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.11 Software Architectures
            Subjects: Languages (e.g., description, interconnection, definition)

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.3 Software Management
          Subjects: Software development

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
OSGi, component-oriented programming, dynamic availability, service-oriented programming