Chip multiprocessor architecture: A programmability-driven approach

Summary form only given. Chip multiprocessors (CMPs) are now the dominant architecture in microprocessor design. However, in many software environments, due to the difficulty of writing correct and high performing parallel programs, the capability of CMPs is underutilized. In this talk, I will argue that to enable more parallel programs to be written more easily, the design of CMPs should be driven by the needs of programmability. To demonstrate the benefits of this approach, I will describe example CMP designs where a focus on programmability has resulted in a simpler programming model and excellent performance. I will also describe a programming environment where programmability can be used to drive the development of future CMP architectures.