P++, a C++ Virtual Shared Grids Based Programming Environment for Architecture-Independent Development of Structured Grid Applications

摘要

P++ is an innovative user environment that simplifies the development of efficient, parallel programs for large scale scientific applications. It permits portability across the widest variety of computer architectures. The target machines are distributed memory computers with different types of node architectures (scalar, vector, or superscalar), but the requirements of shared memory computers are also addressed. The P++ environment does use the standard language, C++ with absolutely no modification of the compiler. The explicit goal of P++ is the support of advanced computational methods for the solution of large-scale computational problems. For efficiency reasons and also for simplification, the use of P++ is restricted to the large class of structured grid methods for partial differential equations. Applications using P++ can selectively exploit the added degree of freedom presented by parallel processing by use of an optimization module within the array language interface. It is hoped that P++, as a technological advance, will simplify access to advanced parallel computers.