Co-Array Fortran for Parallel Programming

Short Description
A Co-Array Fortran program is interpreted as if it were replicated a number of …… used to mimic the co-array programming style. Given a Co-Array Fortran …

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Content
RAL-TR-1998-060
Co-Array Fortran for parallel programming1
by
R. W. Numrich2and J. K. Reid3
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.
Categories and subject descriptors: D.3 [PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES]….