What is Norna?
    The Norna framework is a dynamic Service and Application framework for rapid development and dynamic deployment of applications under a unified Java runtime.

The main objectives when designing it was:

• Fine grained security control
• Dynamic service loading/unloading
• Modular design through interfaces

Building on Java version 1.4 Norna offers increased scalability through non-blocking I/O as well as overall speed improvements over previous Java versions.

Norna defines Services within a framework Platform. The services implements a set of interfaces and is controlled by the platform.

What is Urd?
    Urd is the default Norna platform implementation. It is developed in tandem with Norna.

What is a Norna / Urd?
    'Norna' is the Swedish word for many Norns, the three ladies of fate in Norse mythology that sits at the root of the world tree 'Yggdrasil', spinning the fate of men.

Somehow it seemed like a nice name for a server framework.

'Urd' is the name one of the Norns. The other two where named 'Skuld' and 'Verdandi'. Of course, the names and the ladies has many disguises, but in Sweden 'Urd' is the 'Norna' we know most about.

And no, the authors of Norna / Urd are not followers of Odin the Gallows-God. We only believe in good code.