DAPHNE: support for distributed applications programming in heterogeneous computer networks

A description is given of DAPHNE, a system of tools and run-time support routines that allow programs to be broken into parts for distributed execution on different nodes of a heterogeneous computer network. This approach serves as a natural basis for classical network services such as remote file access or remote login while at the same time allowing arbitrary distributed applications to be written in a standard programming language. The pivot of DAPHNE is a remote procedure call mechanism that is specifically adapted to a heterogeneous environment, notably heterogeneous systems software. The current language context of DAPHNE is Modula-2. Prototype software exists for a local area network including Unix and MS-DOS systems