Browsers for Distributed Systems: Universal Paradigm or Siren's Song?

Web-based browsers are quickly becoming ubiquitous in the workplace. Software development managers are quick to incorporate browsers into a broad range of software development projects, often inappropriately. The purpose of this technical report is to examine the technical issues relevant to incorporating browsers as a component of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) -based solution. Issues examined include portability, performance, functionality, severity, human factors, distribution, installation, upgrading, component-based development, runtime configuration management, and licensing.