Can Transactions Enhance Parallel Programs?
Troy A. Johnson, Sang-Ik Lee, Seung-Jai Min and Rudolf Eigenmann
The 19th International Workshop on Languages and Compilers for Parallel Computing (LCPC 2006)
New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2-4, 2006
Abstract
Transactional programming constructs have been proposed as key elements of advanced parallel programming models. Currently, it is not well understood to what extent such constructs ease parallel programming and how transactions enable efficient parallel program implementations beyond what is possible with existing techniques. This paper pursues these two questions. We investigate the technology underlying transactions and compare it to existing parallelization techniques. We also consider the most important parallelizing transformation techniques and look for opportunities to further improve them through transactional constructs or -- vice versa -- to improve transactions with these transformations. Finally, we evaluate the use of transactions in the SPEC OMP Benchmarks.