Enterprise Integration Patterns: Designing, Building, and Deploying Messaging Solutions (Addison-Wesley Signature Series (Fowler))

by Hohpe Gregor

Platform/Language Integration. When connecting multiple computer systems via remote communication, these systems likely use different languages, technologies, and platforms, perhaps because they were developed over time by independent teams. Integrating such divergent applications can require a neutral zone of middleware to negotiate between the applications, often using the lowest common denominator—such as flat data files with obscure formats. In these circumstances, a messaging system can be a universal translator between the applications that works with each one’s language and platform on its own terms yet allows them to all to communicate through a common messaging paradigm. This universal connectivity is the heart of the Message Bus (137) pattern.