The Jini architecture for network-centric computing
Jim Waldo · Communications of the ACM · 1999
This article focuses on Jini Architecture, a new approach to computing systems developed by software-based company Sun Microsystems Inc. This approach makes the network as central connecting issue. Jini technology assumes a changing network, in terms of both the components that make the network and the way these components interact. Jini architecture is designed around to support incrementally upgrading network components. It allows anything with a processor, some memory, and a network connection to offer services to other entities on the network or to use the services that are so offered. The Jini system is Java centric because it requires features that are widely available only within the Java platform. The Jini enabler has the ability of a service to move code into a client that wants to make use of that service. Such mobility is not unique to Java environment, however, the Java environment combines mobile code with other important properties that make exploitation of that mobility easy and safe. The Jini system aims to provide the minimal set of rules to allow clients and services to find each other and interact.