Distributed computing platforms like clouds and web standards: what could be the solution in an open environment?

摘要

Complex distributed computing platforms, like cluster systems, grids or clouds, are today's choice to deploy modern applications. With the proliferation of different devices, most of them in the mobile area and the wide support of web social networks, a wider range of applications are executed through a browser, the software components that are currently present in all of the users' devices. Moreover, since the shift of application development from native applications to web applications, modern applications now require complex features in term of supported platforms and development standards to guarantee the applications' interoperability. Distributed architectures such as cloud computing and web standards seem to be the candidates, but there are some issues related to their real applicability, especially when considering an open environment and the languages adopted. Working in a research institute, our focus is on an open platform and adherence to standards since only common standards could guarantee interoperability solutions and real culture diffusion. This paper discusses our approach in searching for suitable platforms and standards to develop applications for several scientific fields: from astronomical applications that are based on web user interfaces querying on distributed databases and producing output in different formats, to communication and outreach fields where the web is the natural platform to disseminate information.