Product Description
In the distributed objects world, Microsoft has had to defer to products such as CORBA, Netscape, and Java Beans. With COM and DCOM, Microsoft is poised to make a large dent in the enterprise market. This book teaches software developers the pros and cons of COM and DCOM. It explains how to use COM and DCOM with their existing systems, how they fit into two and three–tier client/server architectures, and new technologies from Microsoft such as Microsoft Transaction Server and Falcon.
From the Author
Microsoft's Vision for Distributed ObjectsThis book is written for people who are trying to understand the Big Six technologies that make up MDCA (Microsoft Distributed Component Architecture). These technologies are:
1. COM
2. DCOM
3. MTS (Microsoft Transaction Server)
4. MSMQ (Microsoft Message Queue Server, aka Falcon)
5. MS-DTC (Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator)
6. MSCS (Microsoft Cluster Server, aka Wolfpack)
In order to understand Microsoft's vision for distributed object applications, it is necessary to understand these six technologies and how they fit together. These technologies cover a wide range of material, from distributed object architectures to distributed two-phase commit to object pooling.
My goal in writing this book is to make these six technologies accessible to a wide audience. I use simple everyday analogies to describe basic issues in distributed programming and to explore the fundamental algorithms that make distributed component programming possible. Many readers find that this treatment makes complex technical material very understandable. I have had innumerable readers tell me that they have read about these technologies repeatedly, and this is the first time they really understood them. I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support I have had from this large group. I have had nobody tell me this book was too complicated for them, for which I am equally grateful.
If you like your technical explanations at the bit level, you aren't going to like this book. This book deals with complex issues, but at a conceptual level. I use gnomes to explain distributed components, airports to explain object pooling, and bank teller lines to explain clusters. The many code examples (primarily in Java) are intended to help focus the discussion. This is a book for people who like to have fun with technology, like to understand technology in the context of everyday life, and like things explained in a non-intimidating manner.
One good way to decide if this book is for you is to look at my other writings, which also approach complex technological issues in an informal manner. My free on-line newsletter contains two good examples. If you like these two articles, you will probably like this book. Of course, these articles are very short, and cover much less material than does the book, but the writing style is similar. If you hate these two articles, well, frankly, you are probably going to hate this book as well.
Microsoft's Distributed Component Architecture (MDCA) is very serious technology, and will have a very serious impact on the way we view corporate computing. But it is also interesting technology, and a lot of fun to explore. I hope you have as much fun reading this book as I had writing it.
See all Product Description
With an Amazon.co.uk 
