Structuring extensions in system infrastructure software using aspects
Date
2006-09-28
Authors
Baldwin, Jennifer Ellen
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Abstract
Many significant system extensions are hard to modularize. Consequently, their addition
to a software system can jeopardize fundamental software engineering principles such as maintainability, understandability and evolvability. For example, the distributed Java Virtual Machine (dJVM) is a cluster aware implementation of a JVM in which distribution was retroactively added as an extension to an existing system. The prototype implementation of the dJVM relies on a patch file applied to IBM’s Jikes Research Virtual Machine (RVM), introducing distribution code into roughly 55% of the original 1166 Java files.
In order to better determine the efficacy of modern modularization techniques such
as aspect-oriented programming (AOP) in the context of system extensions, we offer up
a case study based on distribution. The thesis of this work is that aspects can enhance extensibility of low-level system infrastructure software and be effectively integrated with existing software practices for introducing widespread change.
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Keywords
Distribution, Aspect-Oriented Programming, Patch, Java Virtual Machine