Method of compilation optimization using an n-dimensional template for

Abstract

When a data-parallel language like Fortran 90 is compiled for a distributed-memory machine, aggregate data objects (such as arrays) are distributed across the processor memories. The mapping determines the amount of residual communication needed to bring operands of parallel operations into alignment with each other. A common approach is to break the mapping into two stages: first, an alignment that maps all the objects to an abstract template, and then a distribution that maps the template to the processors. This disclosure deals with two facets of the problem of finding alignments that reduce residual communication; namely, alignments that vary in loops, and objects that permit of replicated alignments. It is shown that loop-dependent dynamic alignment is sometimes necessary for optimum performance, and algorithms are provided so that a compiler can determine good dynamic alignments for objects within 'do' loops. Also situations are identified in which replicated alignment is either required by the program itself (via spread operations) or can be used to improve performance. An algorithm based on network flow is proposed for determing which objects to replicate so as to minimize the total amount of broadcast communication in replication.