Wilde: An open systems paradigm for groupware

Groupware support issues are reviewed and the issue of system flexibility is identified as an overriding concern, in terms of adaptability and potential for system integration. An open systems approach for supporting groupware is advocated and an open systems middleware technology, called Wilde, is presented. Wilde is built on the principle of separating design from functional code. A distinguishing feature of Wilde is that it supports a design level paradigm for performing system modifications. Wilde is shown to support the construction of component-based groupware that can be redesigned after it has been built, and even as it executes. Wilde's implementation is discussed, and examples of its use are presented. The use of Wilde in constructing groupware is discussed and Wilde is held to provide an appropriate underlying paradigm on which issues of adaptability and application integration can be solved.