For large scientific and engineering application programs that enjoy a relatively large distribution or usage, it is reasonable to expect that a distributed processing system may be developed that offers minimum computational cost, as well as providing a maximum utilization of manpower. Interactive pre- and post-processing would utilize one computer system that incorporated hardware and operating system features that were matched to that type of processing, while the batch-oriented processing phase would utilize a second computer system with features matched to that type of processing. The processors would be linked by a high-speed data channel. Each processor would have access to a local disk storage system so that files could be staged between them. Job control software would be used to control the processing environment. Although distributed processing systems are used in the large national laboratories and research centers, the concept is applicable to most computer centers engaged in large scientific and engineering projects. As manpower costs continue to climb and the cost of computations continue to fall, multiple processor computer systems, which address specific needs of various phases of application programs, become a very attractive alternative to the shared, centralized computer system.