From: Tarik Nesh-Nash (tarikn_at_microsoft.com)
Date: Mon Jan 12 2004 - 09:23:49 PST
Many different sequential Computations were implemented in the late 60s,
and many high level languages were already available . This paper
raises the question of multiprogramming systems and explains how the
existing technology does not provide any good support. The author then
proposes an intermediate language that addresses some of the aspects of
multiprogramming, with the expectation that high level languages will be
extended accordingly and this intermediate language will grow as needed.
I m a bit not clear about the distinction between multiprogramming and
time-sharing systems. I would describe a multiprogramming system is
based on machine resources sharing by multiple concurrent applications,
while time-sharing is based on the idea that multiple users are using
the system. The definition seems different but tightly related.
The document describes five properties that do not exist in conventional
systems and that the research tries to address. A careful definition of
the terminology was detailed, and this makes the reading much easier and
avoided any discrepancy.
A definition of different primitives were introduced to solve the
problems of Parallel processing, naming and protection. This looks like
a pioneer paper on this subject. Some solutions were still basic and
had some architectural holes.
For example, the parallel processing implementation had the definition
of lock/unlock and avoided starvation using timeout, however, since the
operation is not atomic there is a potential of data corruption.
Another unclear point is about protection, it seems that the system
trusts the user, the user can set any rights to its process, and hence
there is no protection against malicious users (this may be irrelevant
to the use of this particualr system).
Overall, this is a very entretaining paper, sometimes criptic, sit
should be an original and innovative publication on the time it was
published.
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