Decentralised control flow - based on UNIX

Abstract

In the computing science community there is a growing belief that the traditional von Neumann programming model will be superceded in the 1990's by a new decentralised programming model. Various “revolutionary” approaches are being promoted: data flow, reduction, actor and logic models. We propose an alternative “evolutionary” approach, namely a decentralised control flow model. This model, a generalisation of the von Neumann model, can already be recognised as providing the basis of modern operating systems such as UNIX. In this paper we discuss initially the programming of future decentralised computing systems that represent a convergence of computer networks and parallel architectures. Next we describe the decentralised control flow model, and finally we present a simple programming language called BASIX that embodies the model.