andy@DEVVAX.TN.CORNELL.EDU (Andy Pfiffer) (02/14/88)
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 88 09:53:08 PST From: joseph@joseph.ucsc.edu (Joseph Reger) To: transputer-request@tcgould.TN.CORNELL.EDU Subject: C compilers, Network Loaders I posted a question about C compilers here a few weeks ago, and got zero number of replies. This surprises me a bit, I would have thought that there are many people out there trying to get a decent C compiler for their Transputer system. I have a rather large (physics) application in C, and would hate to port it to OCCAM. I have a C compiler, but it has no network loader, so I would have to import it's output into TDS, which gives me the creeps. Is there *any* network loader available that would let me bypass TDS altogether? The most simple one would do it, since I download an identical code to all transputers in the network ( i.e. the problem is embarrasingly parallel). I would put up with a working beta release version, if it need be. Can anyone help? Joseph D. Reger joseph@chromo.ucsc.edu. reger@ucscd.bitnet ==== There are in fact several C compilers out there for Transputers. Our group has had good luck with the Pentasoft (formerly Penguin) C compiler. Other compilers that come to mind come from Definicon, and from Kirk Bailey, both of which are more oriented towards the IBM PC-type environment. As far as network loaders, they are trivial to write when you have a Transputer ready to boot from link. Consult the INMOS documentation for the methods to boot a Transputer over a link. Its easy! In a paragraph, a Transputer that is ready to boot from link is capable of doing three things: read a word of memory, write a word of memory, or download upto 255 bytes and start executing them. You don't need more than that, really... We (ie. the Trillium group) wrote some elaborate boot code for the T-Series in order to get the operating system up. We then send messages for process creation, destruction, and inquiry. Probably the biggest problem with writing a generic network loader is that there is no generic hardware topology except for, say, an INMOS B004 board... Andy
holly@netmbx.UUCP (Carsten Petersen) (02/20/88)
In article <8802131839.AA24726@devvax.TN.CORNELL.EDU> andy@DEVVAX.TN.CORNELL.EDU (Andy Pfiffer) writes: > > Date: Thu, 11 Feb 88 09:53:08 PST > From: joseph@joseph.ucsc.edu (Joseph Reger) > To: transputer-request@tcgould.TN.CORNELL.EDU > Subject: C compilers, Network Loaders > > I have a rather large (physics) application in C, and > would hate to port it to OCCAM. Why do you hate proting this program to OCCAM. If you will do that, perhaps you can paralyse some processes. So it will be more effective to start that program on transputers. By the way, which transputers do you use ? I use the T800N in an array of two. > I have a C compiler, but > it has no network loader, so I would have to import it's > output into TDS, which gives me the creeps. Is there > *any* network loader available that would let me bypass > TDS altogether? The most simple one would do it, since I > download an identical code to all transputers in the > network ( i.e. the problem is embarrasingly parallel). I > would put up with a working beta release version, if it > need be. There are many difficult things in your article. You have to tell me, what is meant by TDS ? Transputers aren't used in Germany so much, so I will not know so much about your things in USA. But, I can tell you, that there are rumors about a PD Program which ports C Pograms to OCCAM. The special thing of this Program is, that it tries to devide the C-Source in paralel processes. I said it anymore, I would port this program. In addition, I didn't hear about a Transputer C-compiler. And don't think, that something like this exists. If you get some, or hear about one, then please contact me. Ok, that was all, I had to say. Ciao -- Carsten Petersen Telefon: D+30 604 6621 holly@netmbx.UUCP Ringslebenstrasse 90 Telex: 186 672 net d 1000 Berlin 47 -remark: carsten petersen
anc@camcon.uucp (Adrian Cockcroft) (02/25/88)
In article <8802131839.AA24726@devvax.TN.CORNELL.EDU>, Andy Pfiffer writes: > > I posted a question about C compilers here a few weeks > ago, and got zero number of replies. > > Can anyone help? Joseph D. Reger > joseph@chromo.ucsc.edu. > reger@ucscd.bitnet > > Our group has had good luck with the Pentasoft (formerly Penguin) > C compiler. Other compilers that come to mind come from Definicon, > and from Kirk Bailey, both of which are more oriented towards the > IBM PC-type environment. See BYTE February 1988 for information on the Definicon C compiler, which has been extended to include Occam-like constructs par{}, alt{}, channel and timer types etc. They have their own hardware so it may not work on a B004 system. This is also available for the Mac, written by Rob Kruver. The current Inmos C compiler is sourced from 3L and 3L have themselves released a Parallel C compiler for 750 pounds. It has concurrent tasks, semaphores, channel I/O, inline assembler and threads (like modula-2 coroutines). It also includes a network configurer which supports static or dynamic configuration. It is being supplied via Transtech (0494 81) 6681 and Sension (0606) 44321 in the UK. This works on the standard IBM PC/B004 setup. Niche Technology have licenced the Pentasoft compiler for their SUN format VME cards (which take Inmos plug in Transputer modules) but are supporting the Inmos and 3L products on the SUN as well. Niche (UK) is on (0272) 298034 Reninshaw Controls can run Microport System V Unix on a PC/AT + B004 or net of Transputers and obviously have a Transputer C compiler to support it. Microport should start shipping this in April 1988. It uses a distributed Unix kernel on the Transputers and uses Unix on the PC/AT as a disk/io server. Perihelion (doing the Atari Abaq) are selling Helios for a PC/AT + plug in Transputer card combination, this has a C compiler as well. It is being distributed by Cambridge Risc Machines in the UK (0223) 350405. I saw it running at a show a few weeks ago and it was a bit flaky but should be very nice later this year. Cost 750 pounds including C compiler, microemacs and X-windows. Including the compiler from Logical Systems this makes a choice of 6 so far. I rate Pentasoft and Perihelion as likely to generate the best code, Inmos and 3L for being available right now on a B004 and DSI for giving an easy migration towards Occam constructs. I hope this is useful... -- | Adrian Cockcroft anc@camcon.uucp ..!seismo!mcvax!ukc!camcon!anc -[T]- Cambridge Consultants Ltd, Science Park, Cambridge CB4 4DW, | England, UK (0223) 358855 (You are in a maze of twisty little C004's, all alike...)