The Challenges of Massive Information System

摘要

Massive Informtion systems, which are large-scale applications built upon the Internet are growing more and more enormous and complex, to such an extent that we no longer understand them and cannot confidently continue to extend them. This paper intends to present the major problems that massive information systems bring about to the designing, implementing and maintaining of such huge software systems as well as science. Three typical classes of such application systems are discussed, including data intensive applications, communication intensive applications and mobile applications. Some common technical issues critical to each class of applications are investigated. And the challenges to the science foundation of massive information system are also discussed including the challenge to the classical computational models, to the modern physics, and to the methodological philosophy of scientific research.