Parallel programming using visual patterns

Abstract

Parallel Programming is significantly more complex than sequential programming because the programmer has the additional tasks of both specifying processes, and their communication and synchronization requirements. In this paper we propose a visual environment in which a non-expert in parallel programming can concentrate on the sequential aspects of a parallel program and specify its communication and synchronization using visual tools. The visual environment provides, as patterns, encapsulations of common communication and synchronization strategies. In addition, an expert parallel programmer can add new patterns to the repository either by defining it completely, or by extending the existing patterns in the repository.