Fundamentals of Parallel Multicore Architecture

Chapter 2

Perspectives on Parallel Programming

Contents

2.1   Limits on Parallel Program Performance

2.2   Parallel Programming Models

2.2.1   Comparing Shared Memory and Message Passing Models

2.2.2   A Simple Example

2.2.3   Other Programming Models

2.3   Exercises

In the previous chapter, we mentioned how parallel architectures require programmers’ effort in writing a parallel program. Writing a parallel program involves breaking down the program into tasks that can be correctly executed independently from one another, and these tasks need to communicate and cooperate in order to produce the same output as the original sequential program. Given the prevalence of multicore architectures, even desktop and mobile platforms require parallel ...