A data-centric design for n-tier architecture

The increasing heterogeneity, complexity, and distributed nature of deployment architectures only serve to compound the problems faced by software solutions. With the advent of the Internet and web technologies, system designers have had to reevaluate the applicability of eta-tier architectures, and assess which technologies are appropriate at each tier. In this paper we evaluate the design issues of eta-tier architecture. We debate whether it is good to move code or data to communicate messages between applications. Based on the latest technology of J2EE and NET framework, we recommend a data centric design of eta-tier architecture. Based on our experience we also suggest a modified interactive software process model. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.