Middleware

Middleware is a type of connector software components and application of computer software, which includes a set of services. In order to run multiple software on one or more machines to interact across a network. The technology provides interoperability and promote the evolution of the distributed architecture is consistent, the architecture typically used to support and simplify the complex distributed applications, including web servers, transaction monitoring and message queuing software. Middleware (middleware) is the basis for a large class of software, are reusable software category. As the name implies, in the middle of the operating system software, middleware and user applications. Middleware on top of operating systems, network and database, the underlying application software, the total effect is to be in their own application software to run the upper and development environment to help users flexible and efficient development and integration of complex software applications. Among the many definitions of middleware, the more generally accepted that IDC expressed: Middleware is a separate system software or service program, distributed applications using this software to share resources between different technologies, intermediate being located above the client-server operating systems, management of computing resources and network communications. IDC defines middleware show, middleware is a class of software, rather than a software; middleware not only interconnected, but also to achieve interoperability between applications; middleware is based on distributed processing software, the most prominent feature is its network communications. Middleware is located platform (hardware and operating systems) and universal service between applications, shown in Figure 1, these services have a standard programming interfaces and protocols. For different operating systems and hardware platforms, they can have a variety of interfaces and protocols in line with specification. It may be difficult for a strict definition of middleware, but the middleware should have the following several characteristics: ① meet the great demand applications; ② run on multiple hardware and OS platforms; ③ support distributed computing, to provide cross-network, hardware and OS platforms transparency interactive application or service; ④ supports standard protocols; ⑤ supports standard interfaces. Since the standard interface for portability and standard protocols for the importance of interoperability, middleware has become a major part of many standardization work. For application development, middleware, operating systems and network services far more important, the middleware provided by the program interface defines a relatively stable high-level application environment, regardless of the underlying computer hardware and system software how to replace old ones, as long as the middleware updates, and maintain the same middleware and external define interfaces, application software is almost without any modifications, thereby protecting the significant investment in enterprise application software development and maintenance of.