Abstract: A client enabled to load and run Java applets in a distributed object computing system retrieves needed Java classes in a location-independent manner from various class servers in the system. Initially, the client queries a naming service of the distributed object computing system to determine the class server that contains the base class needed. A connection through an object request broker is made from the client to the class server. The client then requests the code for the base class from the class server by using the object request broker. The class server retrieves the code by either reading a file from its own local file set, or if the code is not local, queries the naming service for another class server that has access to the code for the base class. This process of finding a class server and determining if the code is local may be recursive as classes may be moved or renamed. The class server then returns this code to the client by way of the object request broker.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program code visually constructs object-oriented application software to be installed on a distributed object system. The method of the invention includes the following steps. Initially, the method provides a catalog facility which contains components having references to pre-existing objects within a distributed object system. A component is selected from the catalog facility for inclusion in the application software. A part corresponding to the object referenced by the selected component is derived from the selected component. The part is then made available to an application construction environment. In this environment, the part can be linked to at least one other part that also references a pre-existing object in the distributed object system. Graphical facilities are provided within the application construction environment for selecting and defining links among parts.

Abstract: A distributed object application builder apparatus filters an object definition to determine the information needed (plugs) and provided (sockets) by an object. Each part (a run-time instance of an object) in the builder has plugs and sockets that are interconnected to other parts to define a distributed object application. At run time, actual instances of objects are substituted for the parts. A method of determining the plugs of an identified part begins by retrieving the interface (object definition) that corresponds to the part. Once retrieved, the plugs of the part are identified by determining the object-valued attributes of the retrieved interface, determining the operations from the retrieved interface that require one object-valued argument, and retrieving the factory argument list from the factory method for the object. These attributes and arguments constitute the plugs of the part. Sockets of a part are determined similarly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program code visually constructs object-oriented application software to be installed on a distributed object system. The method of the invention includes the following steps. Initially, the method provides a catalog facility which contains components having references to pre-existing objects within a distributed object system. A component is selected from the catalog facility for inclusion in the application software. A part corresponding to the object referenced by the selected component is derived from the selected component. The part is then made available to an application construction environment. In this environment, the part can be linked to at least one other part that also references a pre-existing object in the distributed object system. Graphical facilities are provided within the application construction environment for selecting and defining links among parts.

Abstract: A distributed object application builder apparatus filters an object definition to determine both information needed (plugs) and provided (sockets) by an object. Each part (a run-time instance of an object) in the builder has plugs and sockets interconnected to other parts to define a distributed object application program. At run time, actual instances of objects are substituted for the parts. A method of determining the plugs of an identified part retrieves the interface (object definition) corresponding to the part. Once retrieved, the plugs of the part are identified by determining the object-valued attributes of the retrieved interface, by determining the operations from the retrieved interface that require one object-valued argument, and by retrieving the factory argument list from the factory method for the object. These attributes and arguments constitute the plugs of the part. Sockets of a part are determined similarly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for selecting and reviewing a distributed object installed on a distributed object system. A method of the invention includes generating a library of components corresponding to distributed objects on the distributed object system, which includes one component corresponding to the distributed object. Each of the components of the library includes information describing the distributed object to which the particular component corresponds. The contents of the library are displayed using a catalog interface device. The library is browsed using the catalog interface device to identify the component corresponding to the distributed object which is then selected. At least a portion of the information describing the distributed object is displayed.

Abstract: A technique for automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system uses program templates and a symbol table. A schematic representation of the network application is formed within a visual application builder. The schematic representation defines connections among representations of previously defined distributed objects. These connections are formed among parts, plugs and sockets that are associated with representations of distributed objects termed components. The schematic representation of the network application is loaded into a symbol table and portions of the schematic representation are stored as a number of entries in the symbol table. These entries include identifier-value pairs; that is, identifiers are mapped to values. The program source files to be generated are determined and the program templates for use in generating the program source file are also determined.