CPL: A Language for Real-Time Distributed Object Programming

As processing and time requirements of computer systems increase over borders of single processor architectures, it is becoming more and more attractive to use distributed computing with additional real-time capabilities. In several cases, traditional programming languages have become insufficient to build distributed systems easily, especially when real-time issues and basic software quality factors are concerned. In this paper, a concurrent, object-oriented, distributed real-time programming language CPL, with its supportive run-time system, namely the CORD-RTS, is introduced and new language features are described. The new language provides an efficient solution for especially command and control systems by embedding distribution and real-time issues within new language constructs. The language preprocessor translates these language constructs into portable C++ code to establish run-time connection with the RTS, which provides real-time communication between distributed objects.