When we talk about distributed objects, we're really talking about independent software components . These are smart pieces of software that play in different networks, operating systems, and tool palates. A component is an object that's not bound to a particular program, computer language, or implementation. Copyright Protection of Interoperability, the Lodestar of Computing , by John Hoagland, Esq., Components Online, Issue 99-2. I ndependent Deployment .
Components are independent units of deployment.
These are a set of functions or functionality of a particular component which represents its behavior. In addition, so that the user of a components does not have to look past the component itself to the original author or souce code, a true component must include all its functionalities and dependencies. So the road to true encapsulation has been via the interface and as such components are said to be interface-based. The Significance of Components , by Bertrand Meyer, Software Development Online, November 1999. The View from the Effiel Tower , Interview with Bertrand Meyer, Software Development Online, September 1997.