Gridkit
The Gridkit Framework
The Gridkit Framework was initially developed as part of the Open Overlays project that is looking at highly dynamic Grid applications in pervasive computing environments; i.e. those characterised by heterogeneity in terms of devices (sensors, mobiles, PDAs, laptops, workstations, clusters, etc.,) and networks (wireless, fixed); and a wide range of end-user application types (high-throughput scientific processing, to media streaming, to mobile service access, etc.).
Gridkit is now also being applied in a wider range of projects at Lancaster: North West Grid and Divergent Grid.
Finally, Gridkit is Open Source software, which we have made available early in its development lifecycle. It currently relies on OpenCOMJ version 1. However, we will move this OpenCOM 2 at a later date. We have made a lot of components available already, however, we will periodically update this - the next update (early May 2006) plans to include Tuple Space, Group Communication, and Service Discovery components.
Flexible Middleware
Many middleware solutions have been created to support all kinds of application requirements: Multimedia applications, scientific applications, mobile applications, enterprise services, and so on. The idea behind Gridkit is to support the ability to configure, reconfigure and extend a single middleware framework; allowing a one stop shop for middleware behaviour to support any of the above application types and more.
By using a coombination of components, reflection, component frameworks, architectural description languages, and modelling languages it is possible to create an instance of Gridkit that fits the individual needs.