Fractal component model: Difference between revisions

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Fractal is a modular and extensible [[component model]] that can be used with various [[programming language]]s to [[software design|design]], implement, [[Software deployment|deploy]] and reconfigure various systems and applications, from [[operating system]]s to [[middleware]] platforms and to [[graphical user interface]]s.

The goal of Fractal is to reduce the development, deployment and maintenance costs of software systems in general, and of [[OW2]] projects in particular. The Fractal model already uses some well known design patterns, such as [[Unit_testingUnit testing#Separation_of_interface_from_implementationSeparation of interface from implementation|separation of interface and implementation]] and, more generally, [[separation of concerns]], in order to achieve this goal.<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Bruneton, Eric |author2=Coupaye, Thierry |author3=Leclercq, Matthieu |author4=Quéma, Vivien |author5=Stefani, Jean-Bernard |year=2006 |title=The FRACTAL component model and its support in Java |journal=Software: Practice and Experience |volume=36 |issue=11–12 |pages=1257–1284 |doi=10.1002/spe.767}}</ref> There is also ongoing research work to get even closer to this goal.

Fractal is hosted and developed by the [[OW2]] consortium. It is distributed under the [[LGPL]] [[open-source license]].

==Sub Projects==

The Fractal Project is made of four sub projects:<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Blair, Gordon |author2=Coupaye, Thierry |author3=Stefani, Jean-Bernard |year=2009 |title=Component-based architecture: the Fractal initiative |journal=Annals of Telecommunications - Annales des Télécommunications |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=1–4 |doi=10.1007/s12243-009-0086-1}}</ref>

The Fractal Project is made of four sub projects:

* The Component Model sub project deals with the definition of the Fractal component model specification. The main characteristics of this model are recursivity (components can be nested in composite components - hence the "Fractal" name) and reflexivity (components have full introspection and intercession capabilities). The Fractal model is also language independent, and fully modular and extensible.

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==Implementations==

Besides Julia [http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/julia/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010135334/http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/julia/index.html |date=2006-10-10 }}, the reference implementation in Java maintained in the [[ObjectWeb]] Fractal project, there are several other implementations of the Fractal component model in other projects, including non [[ObjectWeb]] projects:

* AOKell [http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/aokell/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014190632/http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/aokell/index.html |date=2006-10-14 }} is a Java implementation similar to Julia, but based on AspectJ instead of mixins. It can execute the same applications as Julia, including Fractal RMI, Fractal ADL, Fractal Explorer.

* FracTalk is a SmallTalk implementation of the Fractal component model.

* FractNet [https://web.archive.org/web/20060914124642/http://www-adele.imag.fr/fractnet/] is a [[Microsoft .NET Framework|.Net]] implementation of the Fractal component model.

* Plasma is a C++ implementation of Fractal, geared at multimedia applications.

* [[ProActive]] [http://proactive.inria.fr] is a distributed and asynchronous implementation of Fractal geared at Grid Computing.

* [[ObjectWeb Think|Think]] is a C implementation of Fractal geared at operating system development.

* Cecilia [http://fractal.ow2.org/cecilia-site/current/] is another C implementation of Fractal, [[Fork_Fork (software_developmentsoftware development)|forked]] from Think v3.

==Tools==

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The currently available Fractal tools are listed below:

*'''Fractal ADL''' [http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/adl/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010135348/http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/adl/index.html |date=2006-10-10 }} parser is a tool made of several Fractal components that can describe and parse Fractal ADL architecture definitions, and instantiate the corresponding components.

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:fractal_gui.png|thumb|250px|Fractal GUI]] -->

* '''Fractal GUI''' editor is a tool made of several Fractal components that provides a graphical tool to design and edit Fractal component configurations.

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:fractal_explorer.png|thumb|250px|Fractal explorer]] -->

* '''Fractal Explorer''' [http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/explorer/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014192339/http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/explorer/index.html |date=2006-10-14 }} console is a tool that provides a way for reconfiguring and managing Fractal-based applications at runtime.

* '''Fraclet''' [http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/fraclet/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017094454/http://fractal.objectweb.org/tutorials/fraclet/index.html |date=2006-10-17 }} provides an annotation-based programming model to leverage the development of Fractal components.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://forge.objectweb.org/cvs/?group_id=22 Download source] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014200454/http://forge.objectweb.org/cvs/?group_id=22 |date=2006-10-14 }}

* [http://fractal.objectweb.org/download/index.html Binary version]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071225222852/http://www.objectweb.org/ Objectweb consortium homepage]

[[Category:Java enterprise platform]]