In recent years, attention has shifted away from independent application programs toward programs that work together as a team. Interoperability refers to the ability of different pieces of hardware and software to communicate with each other. Software interoperability is an important trend.
One way to get programs to work together is to write them together. A suite is a set of applications that is sold as one package, and it offers several advantages to the consumer. The price of the suite, for instance, is usually much lower than the price of the individual applications, and because the programs are produced by the same developer, they can be made to interoperate.
Consider a suite of standard office applications, which include word processing, spreadsheet, and e-mail programs. Interoperability could allow the e-mail program to use the word processor program for editing. In other words, while you were composing a new e-mail message, the e-mail program's editing window would display the word processing program.
If the programs didn't communicate in this way, then the e-mail program would need its own programming code for editing text. This capability would be redundant, and probably the e-mail program would have fewer editing features.
Similarly, the word processor might allow a spreadsheet to be displayed inside a document. When editing the spreadsheet, the user is actually using the spreadsheet program, even though the spreadsheet is inside a word processing document. Or, the word processor might allow a graph, generated from spreadsheet data, to be displayed in a document. If the user later edited the spreadsheet data, the graph would automatically be updated the next time the document was opened in the word processor.
Another advantage to a suite is that each program can have a similar interface style. Developers talk about a program's "look and feel." When a program looks and feels like another program that the user is already comfortable with, the user can learn the program more easily.
ifferent suites exist for different kinds of users. The most common suite, as already mentioned, is the "office" suite for use in business and home offices. It usually includes a word processor, spreadsheet, e-mail, presentation software, and sometimes other components. Other common suites are used by web page designers. They include programs to edit web pages, organize entire Web sites, manipulate images, and so on.
Still another suite highlights graphic design and is used for the design and layout of books, magazines, advertisements, and other materials. Typical programs include a photograph manipulator, an illustration program, a document layout program, and so on. Because so much content is directed towards the Web, many graphic designer suites also include the features of a web page design suite too.
Interoperability among programs from the same developer isn't simple, but interoperability between programs from different developers is even more complicated. What's needed is a standard way of communicating. Programs that conform to some standard interface to facilitate interoperability are called components.
There are many advantages of components to developers. For one, using components can decrease development time significantly. Consider how many programs need to let the user edit text like a word processor, such as e-mail programs, presentation software, and data entry programs. Rather than develop that functionality themselves, a programming team can purchase a component with that capability and simply plug it into their developing application.
Components can also lead to fewer software errors. If one company makes a word processor component that hundreds of other companies will use, the component is rigorously tested and so widely used that any flaws are soon uncovered and the component is repaired and redistributed.
Now, suppose that instead, 100 companies each develop their own word processing capability from the ground up. It's much more likely that some of the applications will have errors in the text editor because fewer people will have seen and tested each application. A couple of specific implementations include COM and CORBA.
Microsoft's solution for interoperability is called COM, which stands for Component Object Model, and it allows the building of applications using components from different developers. In this context, an "object" is just a program that exists to provide a service to applications.
COM works well, but because it is backed by Microsoft, it is viewed as a Windows-centric technology, even though Microsoft makes COM technology work under other operating systems as well. Some developers are nervous about conforming to a standard that is owned by a single company.
CORBA stands for Common Object Request Broker Architecture. Unlike COM, CORBA is an open standard, which means it is supported by a nonprofit organization (in this case the OMG, or Object Management Group) that any programmer or company may join.
This support carries two benefits to programmers. First, it gives them a voice in the development of the standard. And second, it keeps the development transparent so that programmers won't be given any surprises. Actually, the owner of a closed standard (like Microsoft with COM) would probably never deliberately make things difficult for programmers because that would be self-defeating. But everyone feels better when they have more direct control over the future.
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Webworldarticles.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
This article was sent to us by:
Brendan Stonker at
02122011
1. Useful iPod Touch applications and settings
All articles in this directory are property of their respective authors. Additionally, read our Privacy Policy
© 2010 WebWorldarticles.com - All Rights Reserved. Partners: Gunblade Saga