A supplemental text providing a framework within which individual topics can be elaborated on in such courses as programming, or a survey that researchers can consult before choosing a set of models and paradigms for the overlapping approaches to programming. Leopold (computer science, Friedrick-Schiller U. Jena, Germany) assumes only a familiarity with elementary concepts of computer science, such as an imperative language and computer architecture. She skims lightly over specific details of the models and paradigms to focus on central concepts, problems, and ideas. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
An all-inclusive survey of the fundamentals of parallel and distributed computing. The use of parallel and distributed computing has increased dramatically over the past few years, giving rise to a variety of projects, implementations, and buzzwords surrounding the subject. Although the areas of parallel and distributed computing have traditionally evolved separately, these models have overlapping goals and characteristics. Parallel and Distributed Computing surveys the models and paradigms in this converging area of parallel and distributed computing and considers the diverse approaches within a common text. Covering a comprehensive set of models and paradigms, the material also skims lightly over more specific details and serves as both an introduction and a survey. Novice readers will be able to quickly grasp a balanced overview with the review of central concepts, problems, and ideas, while the more experienced researcher will appreciate the specific comparisons between models, the coherency of the parallel and distributed computing field, and the discussion of less well-known proposals. Other topics covered include:
* Data parallelism
* Shared-memory programming
* Message passing
* Client/server computing
* Code mobility
* Coordination, object-oriented, high-level, and abstract models
* And much more
Parallel and Distributed Computing is a perfect tool for students and can be used as a foundation for parallel and distributed computing courses. Application developers will find this book helpful to get an overview before choosing a particular programming style to study in depth, and researchers and programmers will appreciate the wealth of information concerning the various areas of parallel and distributed computing.
