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Middleware is a software that sits 'in the middle' between applications (e.g. a word processing program) working on different operating systems (Unix, Windows, z/OS, etc.). It is similar to the middle layer of a three tier single system architecture, except it is stretched across multiple systems or applications. Examples include database systems, telecommunications software, transaction monitors and messaging-and-queueing software. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... A game engine is the core software component of a computer video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... A database management system (DBMS) is a computer program (or more typically, a suite of them) designed to manage a database, a large set of structured data, and run operations on the data requested by numerous users. ...

The distinction between operating system and middleware functionality is to some extent arbitrary. While core kernel functionality of course can only be provided by the operating system itself, some functionality previously provided by separately sold middleware is now integrated in operating systems. The typical example is the TCP/IP stack for telecommunications, nowadays included in virtually every operating system.

Middleware is computer software that connects software components or applications. The software consists of a set of enabling services that allow multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact across a network. This technology evolved to provide for interoperability in support of the move to client/server architecture. It is used most often to support complex, distributed applications. It includes web servers, application servers, content management systems, and similar tools that support application development and delivery. Middleware is especially integral to modern information technology based on XML, SOAP, Web services, and service-oriented architecture. Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... Software component representations: above the representation used in UML, below the representation commonly used by Microsofts COM objects. ... Interoperability is connecting people, data and diverse systems. ... An application made up of distinct components running in separate runtime environments, usually on different platforms connected via a network. ... The inside/front of a Dell PowerEdge web server The term Web server can mean one of two things: A computer program that is responsible for accepting HTTP requests from clients, which are known as Web browsers, and serving them HTTP responses along with optional data contents, which usually are... An application server is a software engine that delivers applications to client computers or devices. ... A Content Management System (CMS) is a software system used for content management. ... The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language. ... A collection of decorative soaps used for human hygiene purposes. ... Web services architecture The W3C defines a Web service (many sources also capitalize the second word, as in Web Services) as a software system designed to support interoperable Machine to Machine interaction over a network. ... Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an architectural style that guides all aspects of creating and using business processes, packaged as services, throughout their lifecycle, as well as defining and provisioning the IT infrastructure that allows different applications to exchange data and participate in business processes regardless of the operating systems...

The term middleware is sometimes considered a buzzword. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Middleware in Simulation Technology. In Simulation, "middleware" is a term generally used in the context of the High Level Architecture (HLA) that applies to many distributed simulations. It is a layer of software that lies between the application code and the Run-Time Infrastructure (RTI), hence `middle' in its title. Middleware generally consists of a library of functions, and enables a number of applications (simulations, or Federates in HLA terminology) to page these functions from the common library rather than re-create them for each application The High Level Architecture (HLA) is a general purpose architecture for distributed computer simulation systems. ... In computing, run-time infrastructure (RTI) is a middleware that is required when implementing the High Level Architecture. ...

Definition

Middleware is the enabling technology of Enterprise application integration. It describes a piece of software that connects two or more software applications so that they can exchange data. Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is defined as the uses of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications. ...

ObjectWeb defines middleware as: "The software layer that lies between the operating system and the applications on each side of a distributed computing system in a network."^[1] An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. ...

Origins

Middleware is a relatively new addition to the computing landscape. It gained popularity in the 1980s as a solution to the problem of how to link new applications to older legacy systems, although the term had been in use since 1968.^[2] It also facilitated distributed processing – the connection of multiple applications to create a larger application, usually over a network.

Organizations

IBM is the most important vendor in the middleware software. In addition to the existing vendors updating their wares to address the newly expanded vision, vendors such as TIBCO, Mercator Software, Crossflo, Vitria and webMethods were specifically founded to provide Web-oriented middleware tools. Groups such as the Apache Software Foundation and the ObjectWeb Consortium encourage the development of open source middleware. TIBCO Software Inc. ... webMethods, which was founded in 1996, is a company that provides business process integration software. ... WWWs historical logo designed by Robert Cailliau The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. ... Apache Software Foundation Logo The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is a non-profit corporation (classified as 501(c)(3) in the United States) to support Apache software projects, including the Apache HTTP Server. ... JOnAS is an open-source J2EE application server, developed and hosted by the ObjectWeb consortium (ObjectWeb is a not-for-profit European consortium, founded by INRIA, Groupe Bull, and France Télécom). ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ...

Use of Middleware

Middleware services provide a more functional set of Application Programming Interface(API) to allow an application to: API and Api redirect here. ...

• Locate transparently across the network thus providing interaction with another service or application
• Be independent from network services
• Be reliable and available always

when compared to the operating system and network services.

Types of middleware

Hurwitz's classification system organizes the many types of middleware that are currently available.^{[citation needed]} These classifications are based on scalability and recoverability: Hurwitz is the last name of several famous people. ...

• Remote Procedure Call (RPCs) — Client makes calls to procedures running on remote systems. Can be asynchronous or synchronous.
• Message Oriented Middleware (MOM) — Messages sent to the client are collected and stored until they are acted upon, while the client continues with other processing.
• Object Request Broker (ORB) — This type of middleware makes it possible for applications to send objects and request services in an object-oriented system.
• SQL-oriented Data Access — middleware between applications and database servers.

Other sources include these additional classifications: Remote procedure call (RPC) is a protocol that allows a computer program running on one computer to cause a subroutine on another computer to be executed without the programmer explicitly coding the details for this interaction. ... Asynchrony is the state of not being synchronized. ... Synchronization is coordination with respect to time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In distributed computing, an object request broker (ORB) is a piece of middleware software that allows programmers to make program calls from one computer to another, via a network. ...

• Transaction processing (TP) monitors — Provides tools and an environment to develop and deploy distributed applications.^[3]
• Application servers — software installed on a computer to facilitate the serving (running) of other applications.
• Enterprise Service Bus — An abstraction layer on top of an Enterprise Messaging System.

A Transaction Processing System (TPS) is a type of information system. ... Software deployment is all of the activities that make a software system available for use. ... An application made up of distinct components running in separate runtime environments, usually on different platforms connected via a network. ... An application server is a software engine that delivers applications to client computers or devices. ... In computing, an enterprise service bus (ESB) refers to a software architecture construct, implemented by technologies found in a category of middleware infrastructure products usually based on standards, that provides foundational services for more complex architectures via an event-driven and standards-based messaging engine (the bus). ...

See also

• Comparison of business integration software

This article is a comparison of business integration and business process automation software. ...

References

1. ^ Krakowiak, Sacha. What's middleware?. ObjectWeb.org. Retrieved on 2005-05-06.
2. ^ Gall, Nick (July 30, 2005). Origin of the term middleware.
3. ^ Definition of middleware. Carnegie Mellon: Software Engineering Institute.

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External links

• Internet2 Middleware Initiative
• Middleware Abstraction Layer
• SWAMI - Swedish Alliance for Middleware Infrastructure
• Element (commercial offering from Enea)
• Open Middleware Infrastructure Institute (OMII-UK)