A system and method for sharing data within a distributed computing system having a plurality of nodes, wherein each node includes a processor and memory. An application is distributed across two or more nodes, including a first node, wherein distributing the application includes creating application processes, associating the application processes with a group and distributing the application processes to the first and second nodes. A data object is established in memory on the first node, wherein defining a data object includes allocating memory for the data object. A name is assigned to the data object and the name is mapped to a data object handle. Data within the data object is accessed through references to the data object handle.