Futures Plans

This section lists new features that we expect to incorporate in future releases of the Fortran M compiler. We welcome feedback from users regarding priorities.

1. Optimized Compiler. An improved compiler will both remove current limitations on the number of processes and channels and improve performance. Our goal is to provide performance superior to what can be achieved conveniently using conventional message-passing libraries.

2. Ports. The compiler will be ported to additional parallel and distributed computer systems. Current priorities are the heterogenous networks, HP, SGI and DEC workstations, Cray T3D, Thinking Machines CM-5, and PCs running Windows NT.

3. Support Tools. We expect these to include support for replay of nondeterministic computations and a parallel profiler.

4. Heterogeneous Applications. An improved linker will permit different processes to execute different executables. This avoids the need to generate a single executable containing all code that may be executed by a program.

5. Fortran 90 Features. Fortran 90 features such as array sections will be introduced in an incremental fashion.

6. Data Distribution Statements. Data distribution statements similar to those defined in High Performance Fortran will be supported, allowing Fortran M programs to both define and access distributed data structures.

7. Interfaces to Other Systems. Interfaces will be defined to allow Fortran M programs to compose modules implemented using message-passing libraries (e.g., the MPI message passing interface standard), other task-parallel languages (e.g., CC++), and data-parallel languages (e.g., High Performance Fortran).

8. Template Libraries. Libraries providing implementations of commonly used parallel program structures will be developed and distributed with the compiler.