Visualisations of parallel algorithms for reconfigurable torus computers

Abstract

Program visualisation can help make an algorithm understandable. Program visualisation is especially challenging in the area of parallel computations where many processors are executing simultaneously. Algorithms for parallel machines take advantage of the simultaneous activity of processors to perform operations very quickly. As a result, these algorithms can be difficult to understand. We describe a visualisation tool developed specifically for explaining algorithms written for single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) computers called torus computers. This tool helps its users to visualise the patterns of activities of the processors in the process of a computation.