Using coordination to restructure sequential source code into a concurrent program

Abstract

A workable approach for modernization of existing software into parallel/distributed applications is through coarse-grain restructuring. If, for instance, entire subroutines of legacy code can be plugged into a new structure, the investment required for the rediscovery of the details of what they do can be spared. The resulting renovated software can then take advantage of the improved performance offered by modern parallel/distributed computing environments, without rethinking or rewriting the bulk of their existing code. The authors discuss one of their experiments using the coordination language MANIFOLD to restructure an existing sequential numerical application written in Fortran 77, into a concurrent application.