[comp.parallel] costs of tag token dataflow

eugene@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya) (06/06/88)

In article <1784@hubcap.UUCP> you write:
>> Gerald's summary of Arvind's tag token data flow.
>    I'd like to hear more about how this language avoids excessive copying
>& wasteful memory usage.  How do standard tasks like matrix multiplication, 
>binary tree insertions, hash table management, etc. work?
>Laurence G. Yaffe			Internet: lgy@pupthy.princeton.edu

There were several posted criticisms of tag token data flow.  Let me
just point out that building and programming parallel computers is like
putting vaccuum tubes together in the late 40s and 50s to build the
first uniprocessors (only harder).  Give Arvind, Dennis (just down the
hall for the summer), and the others to try their concepts.  Bits don't
all go to immediately solving user problems, otherwise, skip the
operating system and write your own I/O (for instance).  Give us a
chance to do some research! if you want faster computers.  It's hard
enough trying to get things running.  The first few models are bound to
be inefficient, costly, etc.

Another gross generalization from

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