Software for supercomputers

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Computer; (United States)

OSTI ID:5699024

Writing good supercomputer software is especially difficult because the authors must take advantage of the complex architectures needed for high performance. For example, program optimization has crucial importance to supercomputers. Good automatic optimization is needed to achieve a higher percentage of the potential speed of supercomputers, better utilization of scarce manpower, and better portability. A good deal of work is now being done on automatic program optimization for vector computers. But even using the best of these, optimizers typically attain a performance from the machine far below the peak vector performance possible. The following are needed: (1) Better algorithms, again to achieve a higher fraction of the potential power; (2) Better languages and operating systems to improve ease of use, efficiency of expression, and efficiency of execution; (3) Better portability, so that software has a longer lifetime and can therefore sustain more development; and (4) Better program optimizers, so that users can spend their time more productively and obtain a higher fraction of the potential power of the supercomputer.

• OSTI ID: 5699024
• Journal Information: Computer; (United States), Journal Name: Computer; (United States) Vol. 21:12; ISSN CPTRB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990210* -- Supercomputers-- (1987-1989)
ARRAY PROCESSORS
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
OPTIMIZATION
PARALLEL PROCESSING
PERFORMANCE
PROGRAMMING
SUPERCOMPUTERS