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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Robert Stroud
This paper shows how reflection and object-oriented programming can be used to ease the implementation of classical fault tolerance mechanisms in distributed applications. When the underlying runtime system does not provide fault tolerance transparently, classical approaches to implementing fault tolerance mechanisms often imply mixing functional programming with non-functional programming (e.g., error processing mechanisms). This means that ""normal"" programmers must be aware of which fault tolerance mechanism is used and how to use it. An alternative approach based on reflective object-oriented programming is presented. The use of reflection can help to improve the transparency of fault tolerance mechanisms to the programmer and more generally provides a clearer separation between functional and non-functional programming. The implementation of some classical replication techniques using a reflective approach is presented in detail and illustrated by several examples, which have been prototyped on a network of Unix workstations. Lessons learnt from our experiments are drawn and future work is discussed.
Author(s): Fabre J-C, Nicomette V, Perenou T, Stroud RJ, Wu Z
Publication type: Report
Publication status: Published
Series Title: Department of Computing Science Technical Report Series
Year: 1995
Pages: 23
Print publication date: 01/05/1995
Source Publication Date: May 1995
Report Number: 517
Institution: Department of Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Place Published: Newcastle upon Tyne
URL: http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/publications/trs/papers/517.pdf
