Run-time evolution for embedded component-oriented systems

This position paper describes ongoing work in which the Java-based SEESCOA component system is extended with functionality for run-time evolution. First, an assessment is made of the state-of-the-art in dynamic updating, and the applicability of existing systems for dynamic updating is examined. Then a new approach is presented, in which the concept of ports is used to redirect messages between components. The problem of class-file reloading in the JVM is avoided by modification of the classes at load-time to include version information. The predictability requirement of embedded systems is assured by updating all component instances at once.