Newsgroups: comp.parallel From: rvdg@cs.utexas.edu (Robert van de Geijn) Subject: New paper on Parallel Linear Algebra Libraries Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin Date: 1 May 1996 22:52:21 -0500 Message-ID: <4mcvam$9dn@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu> We would like to bring our latest paper to the attention of the comp.parallel community: Almadena Chtchelkanova, Carter Edwards, John Gunnels, Greg Morrow, James Overfelt, Robert A. van de Geijn, "Towards Usable and Lean Parallel Linear Algebra Libraries," TR-96-09, Department of Computer Sciences, University of Texas, May 1996. Submitted to Supercomputing 96. Abstract In this paper, we introduce a new parallel library effort, as part of the PLAPACK project, that attempts to address discrepencies between the needs of applications and parallel libraries. A number of contributions are made, including a new approach to matrix distribution, new insights into layering parallel linear algebra libraries, and the application of ``object based'' programming techniques which have recently become popular for (parallel) scientific libraries. We present an overview of a prototype library, the SL_Library , which incorporates these ideas. Preliminary performance data shows this more application-centric approach to libraries does not necessarily adversely impact performance, compared to more traditional approaches. For further details, see http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/rvdg/abstracts/SC96.html --