[e-lang] [cap-talk] Distributed E systems

[Stiegler, Marc D]

 Umm, I would say that the unum problem is a general problem in
distributed systems, but that the Squeak, Croquet, and E communities are
the only ones to have driven far enough into this space to know there is
a general problem here to be solved. This may be one of those problems
for which you need to be completely immersed in the distributed-object
paradigm before you can even realize there is a question to ask; people
who build systems with C code, TCP sockets, and http protocol do not
have a mental toolset adequate for visualizing the problem. 

Also, for many applications, you can use a simplified model of the
distributed components and get away with it: even LDAP, for example, can
be thought of as a very simplified unum system, with weaknesses that are
irrelevant for the purposes for which LDAP was developed. I would guess
that the system you are building can also live without the full glory of
an unum. The only place I have run hard into the wall where the unum is
required is in shared distributed virtual realities.

I think you really want to avoid depending on solving the unum problem.
Redefine your requirements to a sufficient extent that you can solve the
problem with something less wonderful, or risk having the project fail.

--marcs

-----Original Message-----
From: cap-talk-bounces at mail.eros-os.org
[mailto:cap-talk-bounces at mail.eros-os.org] On Behalf Of Monty Zukowski
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 10:20 AM
To: Discussion of E and other capability languages
Cc: General discussions concerning capability systems.
Subject: Re: [cap-talk] [e-lang] Distributed E systems

Thank you, this is just the kind of information I was looking for!  I
found one reference to Unums on a Sqeak message from Mark Miller that
referenced http://www.erights.org/talks/uni-tea/index.html  Otherwise
Google isn't helping much.  Am I correct in assuming that Unum as a
research problem is specific to the Croquet, Squeak and E communities?
Or is it a general topic in CS?  Any more references would be
appreciated.

Thanks!

Monty