Packaging and Deployment Glossary


The packaging and deployment model for CORBA Components introduces a large number of terms and concepts that are usually not transparent after a single reading. This page tries to introduce the most relevant terms in a simplistic but more comprehensible way.

Software Package Descriptor
A Software Package Descriptor is an XML file with a .csd extension (for Component Software Descriptor) that describes a single component. It references the file that implements the component (the shared library or executable) and the IDL file.

Software Package
A Software Package is a ZIP file with a .zip extension that contains a Software Package Descriptor, and it usually also includes the associated implementation and IDL files: it is therefore a self-contained package of a single component.

Property File Descriptor
A Property File Descriptor is an XML file with a .cpf extension (for Component Property File). It defines values for a home's or component's attributes.

Assembly Descriptor
An Assembly Descriptor is an XML file with a .cad extension (for Component Assembly Descriptor). It references zero or more Software Package Descriptors, contains information about home and component instances to create, references Property File Descriptors to configure them, and last but not least contains information about the ports to connect.

Assembly Archive
An Assembly Archive is a ZIP file with a .aar extension. It contains an Assembly Descriptor, and it usually also includes all associated files: Software Package Descriptors, Property File Descriptors, implementation and IDL files. It is therefore a self-contained package or multiple interconnected components.

Component Descriptor
The Packaging and Deployment specification also defines a Component Descriptor, which is an XML file with a .ccd extension. It contains implementation-specific information about a component. MicoCCM does not use Component Descriptors.


Frank Pilhofer, fp@fpx.de