The NewFLOW Computational Model and Intermediate Format - Version 1.04

Abstract

This report motivates and defines a general-purpose, architecture independent, parallel computational model, which captures the intuitions which underlie the design of the United Functions and Objects (UFO) programming language. The model has two aspects, which turn out to be a traditional dataflow model and an actor-like model, with a very simple interface between the two. Certain aspects of the model, particularly strictness, maximum parallelism, and lack of suspension are stressed. The implications of introducing stateful objects are carefully spelled out. The model has several purposes, although we primarily describe it as a vehicle for the compilation and optimisation of UFO, and for visualising the execution of programs. Having motivated the model, this report specifies, in detail, both the syntax and semantics of the model, and provides some examples of its use. 1 Motivation The primary purpose of this report is to define the semantics and syntax of NewFLOW, an intermediate rep..