How REBOL Works
The Web Model of Computing
The world wide web is based on the traditional client-server model. The
data, functions, and much of the user interface resides on a server. The data is stored, searched, and manipulated
by server functions that produce a static web page that is sent to a client device for display.
The client is, in essence, a dumb terminal that displays the user interface
and handles user events, such as clicking a mouse. Whenever the user selects a button on the screen a message must
be sent back to the server and the processing starts over again on the server to create the next page.
The REBOL Model of Computing
By contrast, REBOL's distributed computing model spreads the data, functions,
and user interface components over the network. The data and code reside on both the server and the client. Data
can be stored, searched, and manipulated by either the server or the client.
For instance, the user interface is created by functions that reside on
the client, not on the server. The client displays information and interacts with the user. User events, such as
selecting a button on the screen, are handled by the client for a much faster response. When necessary the client
sends data back to a server or to another client.
More than Client-Server: Peer-to-Peer
The REBOL distributed computing model applies to more than just server-client
interactions. All REBOL devices can make direct connections to other REBOL devices, allowing direct peer-to-peer
communications to occur. Peer-to-peer connections help reduce network and server bottlenecks and provide a more
private and direct channel for communications.
Establishing the peer-to-peer connection is done through a server that coordinates
and manages the peer-to-peer activity. The server provides client rendezvous, enforces authentication, establishes
security, and allows administrative control.
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