The present invention extends to mapping between object oriented and service oriented representations of a distributed application. A computer system accesses an annotated object oriented representation of a service, which is annotated with service description attributes mapping included objects to corresponding service oriented elements in a service oriented representation of the service. The computer system identifies a service description attribute that annotates an object of the annotated object oriented representation. The computer system maps the object to a corresponding service oriented element in accordance with service description information contained in the identified service description attribute. The computer system outputs a channel object configured to implements behaviors and data formats described in the service oriented representations. The computer system initiates a channel that is compatible with behaviors and data formats of the service.