Distributed Systems Engineering has proved a valuable resource for those involved in the applied aspects of distributed and networked systems engineering. However, even during the life of the journal, what was once a niche area of research has undergone tremendous development, both technically and academically. The emphasis of the subject has shifted to such an extent that the positioning of the journal is now inappropriate. This then is the final issue of Distributed Systems Engineering, as the journal ceases publication at the end of 1999.

The publication of Distributed Systems Engineering also represented a major step forward for three of the UK's leading learned societies, in pursuing a common interest in distributed engineering. Distributed Systems Engineering has been instrumental in bringing these organizations together on a number of other issues of mutual interest.

We thank all those who have submitted papers, whether published or not, during the lifetime of our journal. To our Editorial Advisory Board, Guest Editors and the many referees who have supported this endeavour we owe a special debt of gratitude. And of course we are grateful to the readers of Distributed Systems Engineering for their support and for many kind comments during the past six years. To all of you we say: your many and various contributions have helped to make the journal an important source of information for those involved in the practical engineering aspects of distributed and networked systems.

The publishers would like to thank the Editors, Morris Sloman and David Hutchison, and the members of the Editorial Board, whose commitment to the journal has resulted in the publication of consistently high quality research, including a number of commissioned special issues in areas of topical interest.

As a service to the distributed systems community, the full electronic archive of the journal will be maintained, with free availability to all, at http://www.iop.org/Journals/ds

David Hutchison
Morris Sloman
The British Computer Society
The Institution of Electrical Engineers
Institute of Physics Publishing