Languages and algorithms for distributed applications [ LSINF2345 ]

 > http://www.info.ucl.ac.be/courses/SINF2345

• Mastering of at least one programming system (eg Mozart system through the course INGI1131)
  
• basics of concurrent programming such as provided by INGI1131

• Study of the theoretical basis of distributed systems, distributed algorithms, and languages for distributed programming. -
• Study of the specific issues related to distributed and mobile systems : geographic distribution, management of localized and distributed resources, fault tolerance, security, interoperability, and openness.
• Practical use of several representative and advanced systems and languages for programming collaborative, distributed, and mobile applications.

Students completing successfully this course will be able to

• define distributed systems and distributed algorithms with concepts they contain and the properties they give to programs.
• design collaborative applications on distributed systems using rigorous models to deal with concurrency and partial failure.
• implement collaborative applications on distributed systems using appropiate technics.
• use some advanced tools for the development of distributed and mobile applications.

Students will have developed skills and operational methodology. In particular, they have developed their ability to

• think with abstractions (reason correctly about a system that consists of several layers of abstractions, and define new abstractions to simplify a problem's solution).

• Dispensatory test 25% (around week 7)
• Project 25%
• Final exam 50% (or 75% if redoing test part)

• Lectures each week
• Practical sessions in the computer room, every two weeks, to solve simplified problems using concepts explain during the lectures
• Design and programming project to apply these concepts in a more complexe application

• Introduction to distributed systems
• Formal models of distributed systems
• Specification and implementation of distributed systems
• Failure detectors
• Reliable broadcast
• Causal broadcast
• Shared memory
• Concensus
• Applications of concensus

Mandatory support:

• slides available online

Course material:

• Rachid Guerraoui and Luis Rodrigues. "Introduction to Reliable Distributed Programming". Springer-Verlag, 2006.
• Hagit Attiya and Jennifer Welch. "Distributed Computing: Fundamentals, Simulations, and Advanced Topics". McGraw-Hill, 1998.
• Peter Van Roy et Seif Haridi, Chapter 11 de Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programming, MIT Press, 2004.
• Peter Van Roy, Per Brand, Seif Haridi et Raphael Collet, A Lightweight Reliable Object Migration Protocol, Springer LNCS 1686, 1998.