Book excerpt: Distributed Object Architectures with CORBA is a guide to designing software comprised of distributed components. While it is based on OMG's Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) standard, the principles also apply to architecture built with other technology (such as Microsoft's DCOM). As ORB products evolve to incorporate new additions to CORBA, the knowledge and experience required to build stable and scalable systems is not widespread. With this volume the reader can develop the skills and knowledge that are necessary for building such systems. The book assumes a familiarity with object-oriented concepts and the basics of CORBA. Software developers who are new to building systems with CORBA-based technologies will find this a useful guide to effective development.