Distributed Programming

Java programming language and TCP/IP protocol stack.

Theoretical lessons based on presentation, demonstration and discussion of topics related to the objectives of the curricular unit.

Practical lessons based on programming assignments.

A project assignment.

This curricular unit aims at providing the students the ability to plan and develop object-oriented distributed applications through the use of different programming paradigms/levels of abstraction, i.e., remote communication, remote/distributed objects, and web services. This type of application requires the ability to understand and deal with issues such as concurrency, synchronization, remote communication, and access to remote objects.

• Implementation of Java distributed applications for TCP/IP networks
• Addressing
• Connectionless communication (UDP)
• Connection-oriented communication (TCP)
• Group communication
• Concurrency and input/output multiplexing
• Multithreaded applications
• Mutual exclusion mechanisms
• HTTP
•     N-Tier architecture
•     JDBC and JPA
•     Introduction to middleware solutions for distributed applications
• Middleware, serialization, RPC, and remote object concepts
• Sun PRC
• Main types of remote objects (singleton, stateful, stateless, etc.)
• Java RMI
• CORBA
• REST Web services
•     Implementation of Java RMI distributed applications
• Servers
• Clients
• Callback
• Remote object activation
• Introduction to security mechanisms
•     Implementation of CORBA distributed applications in Java
• Servers
• Clients
•     Implementation of Java distributed applications based on REST web/API services
• Servers
• Clients
• http authentication mechanisms
• Spring Boot platform
• Microservice architectures

• Mini-tests at the end of theoretical classes:
• Mini-tests starting in the second week of classes (one per class);
• Each one counts for 0.2 points in the final grade;
• Maximum weight in the final grade: 7.5%.

• Mini-tests at the end of laboratory classes:
• Mini-tests starting in the second week of classes (one per class);
• Each one counts for 0.2 points in the final grade;
• Maximum weight in the final grade: 7.5%.

• Students with worker-student status and Erasmus students who have not taken any mini-tests in theoretical and practical classes may take an alternative test on the day of the regular exam (15% of the final grade).

• A project assignment that includes most of the topics covered in this course:
• 40% of the final grade;
• 2 evaluation phases;
• 1st phase:
• 5 points;
• Submission deadline: end of the 12nd week of the semester;
• Defenses: 13rd week of the semester.
• 2nd phase (REST and RMI components):
• 3 points;
• Submission deadline: end of the 14th week of the semester;
• Defenses: 15th week of the semester.
• During the special exam period, students who have access to it may, if they wish and have not yet obtained a grade in this component, take an alternative to the project assignment, provided they inform the teacher (40% of the final grade).

• A final exam:
• 45% of the final grade;
• Required minimum grade of 25%.

• Final exams can be retaken.
• The project assignment and the mini-tests cannot be improved.

NAO