Evolving hypermedia middleware services: lessons and observations

In this paper, we consider the evolution of hypermedia system architectures from the monolithic systems of the 1980’s to the middleware-oriented component-based open systems of today. We look at the various problems that users and system designers encountered with systems at various stages of this development, focusing particularly on problems that were solved or caused by moving toward a more middleware-oriented approach. Although we cast our discussion in terms of specific hypermedia systems, we believe that many of our observations on the advantages and challenges of our current middleware approach may be helpful to those in other areas of system research.