Dividing the application definition from the execution

Abstract

Current computing practice requires great effort to produce an application with a reliable, distributed, heterogeneous, adaptive, dynamic, real-time, parallel, secure or other execution. An exception is a bag-of-tasks application. Examples of such a type of application include the simulation of independent trials, the processing of independent media frames and the evaluation of independent candidate solutions. In many real-world projects, an external system provides such an application with a transparent execution. This division of the application definition from the application execution greatly reduces the effort to produce the application. This presentation has several aims. Most specifically, this presentation helps produce a bag-of-tasks application with less effort. Most generally, this presentation points out that many other applications can be treated like a bag-of-tasks application and thus can be produced with less effort. The Division of Labour Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations of 1776 describes some of the tremendous benefits resulting from the division of labour. Also in the production of a computing application, much of good practice may be described as a division of labour. Dividing the production reduces the effort required to produce an application. Alternatively, dividing the production allows a better application to be produced with the same effort. In addition to the initial creation of the application, the production includes debugging, maintenance, improvements and other efforts.