Local vs Distributed Objects

The distinction between Local and Distributed Objects is not just an implementation detail; it is a fundamental difference that cannot be fully abstracted.

Key differences typically include:

1. Latency: Remote calls are orders of magnitude slower.
2. Memory Access: Separate address spaces mean no shared state/pointers.
3. Partial Failure: A remote machine can fail while the local one keeps running (and vice-versa), unlike a single local process.
4. Concurrency: Distributed systems are inherently concurrent.

Attempts to make distribution transparent (hiding these differences) often lead to fragile and inefficient systems.

Related

• [[A Note on Distributed Computing]]

Source: [[Paper: A Note On Distributed Computing]]