Embedded applications require specialized functionality from their middleware. Implementations of middleware standards such as Real-time CORBA are often large and hence unsuitable for most memory-constrained devices. A middleware for embedded systems must be configurable for low footprint, and also provide the quality of service required by the application.
ZEN-kit is a graphical design tool for Real-time CORBA distribution middleware for embedded systems that allows application developers to model and build low-footprint, custom middleware for the specific functionality required by each application.
The goals for ZEN-kit are
- To allow full control over middleware customization, to achieve minimal memory footprint, while simultaneously
- Minimizing the difficulty of this custom configuration for designers of distributed, embedded systems. Achieving minimal footprint is possible because of the pluggable nature of ZEN, a Real-time CORBA ORB. Ease of use is achieved through the use of hierarchical organization, as well as the use of appropriate CORBA feature-oriented terminology, rather than ORB design terminology. ZEN-kit also provides for the customization of cross-cutting concerns such as real-time behavior, fault-tolerance, and security through the use of aspect-oriented technology.
ZEN-kit provides a graphical interface to the user that is designed as a plug-in to the Eclipse IDE.
Publication
"Tool-based Configuration of Real-time CORBA Middleware for Embedded Systems", Shruti Gorappa, Juan A. Colmenares, Hojjat Jafarpour, and Raymond Klefstad,
the 8th IEEE International Symposium on Object-oriented Real-time distributed Computing 2005, Seattle, Washington