Chapter 2

Background

Good parallel programming requires attention to both the theory and the reality of parallel computers. This chapter covers background material applicable to most forms of parallel programming, including a (short) review of relevant computer architecture and performance analysis topics. Section 2.1 introduces basic vocabulary and the graphical notation used in this book for patterns and algorithms. Section 2.2 defines and names some general strategies for designing parallel algorithms. Section 2.3 describes some general mechanisms used in modern processors for executing parallel computations. Section 2.4 discusses basic machine architecture with a focus on mechanisms for parallel computation and communication. The impact of ...

Get Structured Parallel Programming now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.