Application and Endpoint Concepts

The term application can refer to an executable program that communicates using TIBCO FTL software, or to an administrative configuration in the realm (an application definition). Application programs can use a provided default application definition, or be customized by administrators.

The term application instance can refer either to a process instance of an application program, or to an administrative configuration in the realm (that is, an application instance definition). Application processes can use the default instance definition. When needed, administrators can declare and configure specialized instance definitions.

Through a matching algorithm, one such configuration can apply to a set of process instances. When defining a configuration, administrators can assign different resources to specific sets of process instances, based on attribute matching, to achieve fine-grained control over communications traffic.

When defining an application instance configuration, the administrator must connect each application endpoint to one or more transports, which actually move message data.

Endpoints represent data exit and entry points within application programs. Transports carry message data between endpoints. Administrators configure endpoint implementation and transport usage in the realm.