A State-of-the-Art Distributed System: Computing with BOB

Distributed systems are a popular and powerful computing paradigm. Yet existing examples have serious short-comings as a base for general-purpose computing. This chapter explores the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of distributed systems. It describes a model for a state-of-the-art distributed system that can do a better job of supporting general-purpose computing than existing systems. This model system combines the best features of centralized and networked systems, with improved availability and security. The chapter concludes by outlining the technical approaches that appear most promising for structuring such a system.