From Theory to Practice

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of distributed computing, the integration of edge devices with traditional cloud infrastructures necessitates innovative approaches to harness their combined computational prowess. Osmotic computing, a paradigm that promises such integration, has transitioned from theoretical frameworks to tangible implementations. This chapter provides a comprehensive examination of osmotic computing, tracing its journey from conceptual underpinnings to its current real-world applications. Central to osmotic computing is the deployment of microservices—modular, autonomous units of computation—strategically positioned across the edge-cloud continuum based on immediate needs and resource availabilities. This review elucidates the foundational principles of osmotic computing, its distinguishing characteristics, the challenges encountered in its practical adoption, and its demonstrable benefits in current computing scenarios.