The next technical step toward object system interoperability is the communication of objects across platforms. An ORB allows objects to hide their implementation details from clients. This can include programming language, operating system, host hardware, and object location. RMI allows Java objects to be executed remotely. A high-level comparison of ORB technologies is available in Table 8 .
Details are available in the referenced technology descriptions.
Among the many things to consider are platform availability, support for various programming languages, as well as implementation choices and product performance parameters. After performing this analysis, developers can make informed decisions in choosing the ORB best suited for their application's needs. Major developments in commercial ORB products are occurring, with life cycles seemingly lasting only four to six months. Whether these commercial directions are fully technically viable and will be accepted by the market is unknown. Such a technology evaluation could include pilot projects focusing on model problems pertinent to the individual organization.