remoting

Remoting refers to the technique of invoking code or methods that execute in a different address space, typically on a separate machine across a network, in a way that makes the remote call resemble a local one. It is a broad concept that covers remote procedure calls, remote method invocation, and object remoting, and it is a core feature of distributed computing.

In remoting, a client issues a request to perform a procedure or method that executes remotely. The remoting framework handles marshaling arguments, transmitting them over the network, and returning results or exceptions. Remoting can be procedural, where a remote procedure is invoked, or object-centric, where remote objects expose methods and maintain identity across the network.

Technologies and patterns used for remoting include RPC-based systems, distributed object protocols such as Java RMI and CORBA, and component technologies like DCOM and, historically, .NET Remoting. Modern practice often leverages HTTP-based communication with formats like REST or SOAP, or with binary protocols such as gRPC and Thrift. Platform-specific implementations include Windows-based solutions such as Windows Remote Management and PowerShell Remoting, as well as cross-platform approaches using various RPC frameworks and message buses.

Security and reliability are central concerns in remoting. Authentication, authorization, and encryption (for example, TLS) are essential, as are robust serialization, versioning, and error handling. Performance is influenced by latency, serialization overhead, and network reliability, leading to considerations such as idempotent operations, retry strategies, and data compression.

Common use cases include distributed and microservice architectures, remote administration and management, cloud services integration, and cross-system orchestration. Limitations include increased complexity, potential tight coupling of interfaces, versioning challenges, and security risks if remoting is misconfigured.