Dynamic Reconnguration through a Generic Connector

In component-based programming, it is often desirable that applications can be modeled as sets of services executed by components selected at runtime. In order to support this requirement, we present the Generic Connector, a mechanism that searches for components that provide the services required in the application connguration program, activates each service and returns the results to the client. The Generic Connector explores Lua's and LuaOrb's intrinsic characteristics. Lua is a dynamically typed, interpreted language and LuaOrb is a binding between CORBA and Lua that provides dynamic access to CORBA objects. The Generic Connector allows the connguration of applications as sets of services without previous knowledge about the components that will actually provide them. As components are selected on-they , the Generic Connector turns out to be a powerful mechanism for dynamic reconnguration.