How will the CRPC help make parallel computing usable?
For the past 30 years, programmers have developed computer software and operating systems that exploit the use of one processor for a task. For parallel computing to work, however, software and operating systems need to be rethought and redeveloped in the context of using multiple processors working together. Standards also need to be developed to ensure that parallel computing users can achieve software performance independent of the machine that they are using. Science and engineering students and current supercomputing users need to be trained in the use of new parallel tools and methods. The CRPC is addressing these areas and others to make parallel computing truly usable at the software level.
