This book investigates the architectural requirements and implementation strategies necessary for building robust, enterprise-scale distributed applications using the COM+ framework. Tim Ewald, a recognized expert in component-based development, provides a technical framework for leveraging application server technologies to manage state, transactions, and concurrency. The text synthesizes core object-oriented design principles with the specific operational constraints of the Windows-based distributed environment.

Experts identify this as a foundational technical manual for developers working within the Microsoft enterprise ecosystem during the COM+ era. Readers frequently note the high level of technical detail and the author's focus on practical application design over theoretical abstraction.