ALICE a multi-processor reduction machine for the parallel evaluation CF applicative languages
John Darlington, Mike Reeve · 1981
The functional or applicative languages have long been regarded as suitable vehicles for overcoming many of the problems involved in the production and maintenance of correct and reliable software. However, their inherent inefficiences when run on conventional von Neumann style machines have prevented their widespread acceptance. With the declining cost of hardware and the increasing feasibility of multi-processor architectures this position is changing, for, in contrast to conventional programs where it is difficult to detect those parts that may be executed, concurrently, applicative programs are ideally suited to parallel evaluation.