===== SPM 2009-2010 =====

This is the list of arguments actually presented during the course in the A.A. 2009-2010.

  * Evolution of computer architectures (multi/many core, clusters, grids, clouds) and urgency of effective parallel/distributed programming models and tools
  * Problems in classical parallel/distributed programming
    * Distinction between distributed and parallel based on computational grain
    * Definition of mapping and scheduling problems
    * Communications and synchronization
    * Computation grain
    * Load balancing, reliability, security and autonomic management
  * Definition of structured parallel/distributed programming model
    * Patterns/Skeletons
    * Key features of a pattern
    * User programmers and system programmer views
    * Layered implementation
    * Pros and cons
  * Skeleton/patterns for parallel/distributed programming
    * Techniques for discovering patterns
    * Classification of patterns (data, stream, control parallel)
    * Typical patterns
    * Cole's manifesto principles (with extensions)
  * Skeleton frameworks 
    * Definition of algorithmic skeleton
    * Language based vs. library based skeleton frameworks
  * Implementation of skeleton frameworks
    * Implementation template technology 
    * Macro data flow technology
  * Fixed vs. variable skeleton set frameworks: how to handle expandability of the skeleton set using macro data flow implementation
  * Advanced features
    * Portability (virtual machine based vs. compiler based)
    * Adaptivity 
      * General principles
      * Behavioural skeletons with autonomic management of non functional features
      * Hierarchical management  
      * Multiconcern management 
  * Performance modelling of structured parallel/distributed computations
    * Measures of interest 
      * Service and completion time
      * Speedup and scalability
      * Efficiency, isoefficiency
    * Performance models for farm, pipeline and data parallel skeletons
    * Performance models using queue theory results
    * How to derive a performance model for a generic skeleton.
  * Design patterns
    * Concept of design pattern
    * Parallel design patterns
    * Sample parallel patterns
    * Perspectives and differences with algorithmic skeletons
  * Software components
    * Definition
    * Component composition (use/provide ports, other kind of ports)
    * Usage, usage in a structured framework
    * Sample component frameworks (Java Beans, Fractal, SCA). Sample SCA code
    * Perspectives and differences with algorithmic skeletons and design patterns. 
  * Workflows
    * Definition
    * Typical usage
    * Scheduling and fault tolerance 
    * Perspectives and differences with algorithmic skeletons and design patterns.
  * Low level frameworks to support structured parallel/distributed programming
    * POSIX-TCP/IP (targets clusters and network of workstations
      * Client server sample implementation
      * Tools and command line utilities (ssh, scp, rsync)
      * Implementation of collective operations with UDP
      * Sample code in C/C++ and Java
    * OpenMP (targets multicores) 
      * Directives and run time primitives
      * Sample code
      * Sample implementation of structured code
    * RPC/RMI (targeting clusters and networks of workstations)
      * Concepts
      * Sample code in C (SUN rpcgen), Java (RMI) and ProActive)
    * Measuring and modelling POSIX/TCP platform
      * Mechanisms used to measure time (wall clock, clock, per process)
      * Simple modelling of TCP communications (approximating communication costs at the steady state)
  * Wireless networks
    * Concept
    * Infrastructure and ad hoc modes
    * Channel access protocols
    * 802.11 
    * Usage in structured context
  * Peer-to-peer techniques
    * Concept
    * Centralized, distributed and hierarchical approaches
    * Typical algorithms and applications
    * Usage in structured contexts
  * Client server model vs. peer to peer: perspectives
  * Concepts and perspectives on parallel programming from the Berkeley paper "A View of the Parallel Computing Landscape"
  * Tools and frameworks:
    * Sample skeleton framework: Muesli. Skeletons provided, installation, sample code.
    * Sample skeleton framework: Calcium/ProActive. Skeletons provided, installation, sample code.
    * Sample component framework: ProActiveGCM
    * Sample message passing framework: MPI. Point to point primitives, collective primitives, compilation and run on clusters.
    * Sample thread framework: OpenMPI.