JPVM: network parallel computing in Java
Adam J. Ferrari · Concurrency Practice and Experience · 1998
The JPVM library is a software system for explicit message-passing-based parallel programming in Java. The library supports an interface similar to the C and Fortran interface of the parallel virtual machine (PVM) system, with modifications to better suit Java programming styles. The similarity between JPVM and the widely used PVM system supports a quick learning curve for experienced PVM programmers. At the same time, JPVM offers novel features not found in standard PVM such as thread safety, multiple communication end-points per task, and default-case direct message routing. JPVM is implemented entirely in Java, and is thus highly portable among platforms supporting a version of the Java Virtual Machine. This feature opens up the possibility of utilizing resources such as Macintosh and Windows based workstations, which are commonly excluded from network parallel computing systems. Initial applications performance results achieved with a prototype JPVM system indicate that the Java-implemented approach can offer good performance at appropriately coarse granularities. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.