IPCC++: A concurrentC++ for Centralized and Distributed Memory Models.

Abstract

InterProcess Communication with C++, (IPCC++), is a concurrent object-oriented programming language that supports concurrency for centralized and distributed memory models while maintaining the high level of abstraction associated with object-oriented languages. The IPCC++ language model is a natural extension of the C++ programming language which introduces and supports the following features of concurrency: process concept, mechanism for process instantiation, static and dynamic process declaration, inter-object concurrency, monitor structure, condition variable, socket structure, typed message passing interprocess communication, synchronous and asynchronous communication, client/server paradigm, and run-time communication error detection. Features of concurrency are introduced as complete objects using the primitives of object-oriented programming languages as the vehicle for introduction. The underlying implementation of the components utilizes Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM), a software system that provides an abstraction of the UNIX operating system. A description of the object-oriented and concurrency paradigms are presented. The IPCC++ language model, which represents both paradigms, is defined and an overview of the language and the features it supports is provided. The environment of execution of the IPCC++ language model is described, along with the components of the model used to establish the IPCC++ environment. IPCC++ supports both the centralized and distributed memory models. Each memory model is defined along with the IPCC++ components necessary to support interprocess communication for its corresponding memory model. The centralized memory model uses the monitor structure and the condition variable of concurrency to facilitate centralized interprocess communication. In addition, the distributed memory model uses the socket structure along with a message passing protocol to support distributed interprocess communication. The producer consumer concurrency problem is presented with the corresponding IPCC++ solution designed for a centralized memory model. The dining philosopher concurrency problem is presented with the corresponding IPCC++ solution designed for a distributed memory model. The language design and concurrency features of IPCC++ are discussed and compared with current research efforts that introduce concurrency to C++ supporting centralized and distributed memory models. A description of the IPCC++ implementation model, preprocessing design, and research contributions of the IPCC++ language is provided.