Implementing remote evaluation

Remote evaluation (REV) is a construct for building distributed systems that involves sending executable code from one computer to another computer via a communication network. How REV can reduce communication and improve performance for certain classes of distributed applications is explained. Implementation issues are discussed. REV is incorporated into a high-level programming language by defining its syntax and its semantics. The compile-time and run-time support for REV is discussed in both heterogeneous and homogeneous systems and compared to that needed by a remote procedure call implementation. Sample performance measurements are included. Experience with a prototype REV implementation is summarized