Experience with Concurrent Aggregates (CA): Implementation and Programming

Abstract

Programming languages for massively parallel concurrent computers need multi-access data abstraction tools. Most concurrent object-oriented languages serialize hierarchical abstractions. Thus multiple levels of abstraction can result in greatly diminished concurrency, even if each level only causes a tiny amount of serialization. This leaves programmers with the choice of reduced concurrency or working without useful levels of abstraction. Going without these levels of abstraction makes programs more difficult to write, understand, and debug.