Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Getting Started:
OpenEdge Reference Architecture

Tightly coupled integration model

A tightly coupled integration model provides a direct connection between components. In this model, you connect to another application or process, send a request, stay connected while processing or waiting for a response, and then disconnect.

In tightly coupled integration, the interfaces between applications are designed only for those specific applications. Special components must be created in order to support the required technologies, and these components are generally not reusable. This reduces the flexibility of the Integration Layer.

For example, suppose you make a change to the way a business services component communicates, and there are four different processes that must access this business services component. In order to upgrade the system, all four programs must be modified to work with the new communication process.