Co-array Fortran for parallel programming

ABSTRACT

Co-Array Fortran, formerly known as F^--, is a small extension of Fortran 95 for parallel processing. A Co-Array Fortran program is interpreted as if it were replicated a number of times and all copies were executed asynchronously. Each copy has its own set of data objects and is termed an image. The array syntax of Fortran 95 is extended with additional trailing subscripts in square brackets to give a clear and straightforward representation of any access to data that is spread across images.References without square brackets are to local data, so code that can run independently is uncluttered. Only where there are square brackets, or where there is a procedure call and the procedure contains square brackets, is communication between images involved.There are intrinsic procedures to synchronize images, return the number of images, and return the index of the current image.We introduce the extension; give examples to illustrate how clear, powerful, and flexible it can be; and provide a technical definition.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: FORTRAN

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
      D.1.3 Concurrent Programming
          Subjects: Parallel programming
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.1 Formal Definitions and Theory
          Subjects: Syntax
      D.3.2 Language Classifications
          Subjects: Concurrent, distributed, and parallel languages

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Languages