Jtrix

Jtrix is a reliable, uniformly dynamic, virtual general purpose computing platform which aggregates administratively heterogeneous resources from many sources on the Internet.

Our applications will run on this platform, and use resources which may be discovered and connected dynamically. Our applications will be able to adapt themselves to the changing structure of this platform, and adapt their own deployment and composition to the changing requirements placed on them by their users, or by other applications which in turn rely on them to provide resources.

Here's that first long sentence broken out:

1. Reliable

   The platform allows applications to run with any desired degree of security and reliability. Those using this system to run their applications wish to provide their users in turn with some guarantee of service levels.

2. Uniformly dynamic

   People can contribute resources as and when they have them.

   The platform has uniform properties throughout. Many resources have a localised nature, and are optimally used only by code running on a particular computer. This implies that programs be able to move to properly utilise these resources.

   The platform is dynamic; not constant but continually changing. Resources are continually added and removed. These resources include those resources required to run programs as well has higher level resources.

3. General purpose

   Jtrix is not a specialised transaction or application server. Jtrix is more of an operating system or a distributed component model.

   The operating system aspects allow developers to write to a uniform target platform. This allows code to run anywhere it is required, regardless of the target system.

   The component model allows for reuse. Reuse is possible both for code and for data. Connection to a component may result in the simple download of code, or it might result in a full server/client connection to existing component state. Anything in between is possible.

   Transaction server or content management systems might be built on top of Jtrix, allowing them to pass the benefits to the applications contained within them. Jtrix enables the development of new development abstractions without having to reimplement the boiler plate mechanisms of internet deployment, hosting, etc.

   Jtrix also provides an infrastructure which can enable applications built using these new abstractions to interoperate and share resources.

4. Administratively heterogeneous resources

   The Web has achieved just this in its field of information distribution. Part of the Web's success is due to the lack of red tape involved in publishing a Web site. Given the basic IP connectivity, no more authorisations from any source are required. Web sites under different administrations may freely link to each other. Given basic conformance to the HTTP and HTML standards, no further standards are imposed. Only when the requirements become more stringent do the administrative constraints become correspondingly tighter.

   Jtrix extends the same model to programming and data resources. For any given type of resource, the minimum requirements are very simple; both provider and consumer must adhere to an agreed interface. Pretty much anyone can supply or use such a resource, and resources may be freely linked into consumer applications. As commercial and security constraints become more complicated, correspondingly more complicated mechanisms become involved.

The Jtrix Project is an open source initiative created to promote the use of Jtrix. The project is intended to make large amounts of code available under the LGPL, and to provide facilities and resources for those working on that code. Most importantly, the project provides a forum and facilities for those wishing to promote standards for various aspects of Jtrix.