SIMD Programming Manual for Linux and Windows (Springer Professional Computing) [Hardcover]

Paul Cockshott (Author), Kenneth Renfrew (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 185233794X | ISBN-13: 978-1852337940 | Publication Date: May 18, 2004 | Edition: 1st Edition.

The book is intended as a programmer’s introduction to the use of SIMD on PCs. It presents the underlying technology of SIMD processing on current PCs and looks at tools to exploit this including the Intel SIMD library and the Parallel Processing Language Vector Pascal. It explains how to cast algorithms in parallel to exploit the parallel processing capability of standard PCs obtaining large performance gains relative to conventional sequential compilers. It assumes a familiarity with imperative programming but not specifically with Pascal. It does not assume any prior familiarity with the SIMD programming model. The language translation system will be available either as a downloadable for Linux or Windows in association with the book. This book will be particularly useful for programmers in the rapidly growing area of games and multi-media entertainment, and it would also to academics interested in parallel programming techniques or array programming languages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Any scientist or engineer having to analyze any volume of data should read this book. The streaming extensions on today's CPUs come to life with the code that is presented clearly and concisely, and your applications will learn to fly. Thumbs up for Paul Cockshott and Keith Renfrew."

Patrick Van Laake, Ph.D.

Equator Spatial Technologies

Endorsement for:

MMX and Streaming SIMD programming Using PCs and Linux

P. Cockshott & K. Renfrew, Springer, 2003

"Vector Pascal represents a major advance in enabling non-experts to exploit the byte-parallel processing capabilities of modern CPUs. Cockshott and Renfrew’s succinct book provides a well-written introduction to contemporary MMX and SIMD technology, and a solid grounding in using Vector Pascal and its tools to develop substantive image processing and graphics applications."

Dr Greg Michaelson

Head of Computer Science

Heriot-Watt University

Riccarton

EH14 4AS

[e-mail]

0131 451 3422

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (May 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185233794X
• ISBN-13: 978-1852337940
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,222,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars why Pascal?, October 18, 2005

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: SIMD Programming Manual for Linux and Windows (Springer Professional Computing) (Hardcover)

Parallel processing is an important but rather specialised field in programming. In general, the subject treatment in this book can be useful, especially given that it covers both linux and Microsoft Windows.

But why is the parallel language a variant of Pascal? Ever since the early 80s, C overtook Pascal in usage. Very little programming goes on in Pascal anymore. It is befuddling why the people who came up with parallel Pascal did so. Far more effective, in terms of outreach, to have derived a parallel language from C [or C++]. While this may not have been the fault of the book's author, it greatly hinders its uptake.