Helps C++ developers understand how and why COM works, focusing on the reasons behind the design of COM and its distributed aspects. Covers core concepts of Distributed COM, such as interfaces, classes, and applications, and details COM theory, C++ language mapping, COM IDL, the remoting architecture, and security. Explains COM vocabulary, provides a complete Distributed COM application, and includes a library of COM utility code. Amazingly, the code examples exhibit a sense of humor. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.