Heterogeneous parallel computing with Java: jabber or justified?

Abstract

Is Java a good language for programming heterogeneous parallel computing systems? It is a well-designed modern language that, combined with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), offers a myriad of modern programming features and excellent portability. However, in speedup-oriented heterogeneous computing, the primary concern is obtaining the best possible execution speed from the heterogeneous system. The paper briefly discusses what heterogeneous parallel computing is really about, lists some of the key features of Java, and finally summarizes how well Java matches the task of programming for heterogeneous parallel computing.