CRPC-TR93430

Title:    Integrated Support for Task and Data Parallelism

Authors:  Mani Chandy, Ian Foster, Ken Kennedy,
          Charles Koelbel, and Chau-Wen Tseng

Date:     May 1994

Minority authors:  Mani Chandy and Chau-Wen Tseng

Keywords: Fortran D; Fortran M; HPF; parallel programming;
          task parallelism; data parallelism; paradigm
          integration

Abstract:

  We present an overview of research at the CRPC designed to
  provide an efficient, portable programming model for scientific
  applications processing both task and data parallelism.
  Fortran M programs exploit task parallelism by providing language
  extensions for user-defined process management and typed
  communication channels.  A combination of compiler and run-time
  system support ensures modularity, safety, portability, and
  efficiency.  Fortran D and High Performance Fortran programs
  exploit data parallelism by providing language extensions for
  user-defined data decomposition specifications, parallel loops,
  and parallel array operations.  Compile-time analysis and
  optimization yield efficient, portable programs.  We design an
  interface for using a task-parallel language to coordinate con-
  current data-parallel computations.  The interface permits
  concurrently executing data-parallel computations to interact
  through messages.  A key notion underlying the proposed inter-
  face is the integration of Fortran M resource management constructs
  and Fortran D data decomposition constructs.

Publication History:

  To be published in The International Journal of
  Supercomputer Applications, Vol. 8.2 (Summer 1994).