Annotations for synchronization constraints in CORBA IDL

Abstract

Most distributed applications require mechanisms for the synchronization of cooperating components. In a CORBA application this functionality is currently hidden in the methods of the server objects. This complicates design, validation and maintenance of distributed applications. To improve this situation we propose guards and concurrency annotations for the CORBA IDL. Our approach allows the explicit description of synchronization constraints as an extension to the object interface definition with the advantage of increased transparency and the potential for automated checking and reasoning. The annotations are included as IDL comments to ensure compatibility with the CORBA standard. Additionally the concept for an automated generation of method frames containing synchronization code is outlined.