Date:    Jul 07/15/14 8:02 AM
Subject: Boston Linux Meeting Wednesday, July 16, 2014
               OpenCL: The open standard for parallel programming of heterogeneous systems
From:    Jerry Feldman


When:  July 16, 2014 7PM (6:30PM for Q&A)
Topic: OpenCL: The open standard for parallel programming of
heterogeneous systems
Moderator:Chris Allen
Location: MIT Building E-51, Room 335

### Please note that Wadsworth St. is still closed.
### Proceed West on Memorial Drive to Ames St. Ames will be
### 2-way during construction. Take a right onto Ames and another right
### onto Amherst.

Summary
OpenCL is the first open, royalty-free standard for cross-platform,
parallel programming of modern processors

Abstract
OpenCL is a framework for programming across multiple processors, such
as CPU, GPU, ASICs, etc. It's primary goal is mathematics and
cryptography. The OpenCL spec is:
1. Platform model: Specifies that there is one processor coordinating
execution (the host) and one or more processors capable of executing
OpenCL C code (the devices). It defines an abstract hardware model that
is used by programmers when writing OpenCL C functions (called kernels)
that execute on the devices.
2. Execution model: Defines how the OpenCL environment is configured on
the host and how kernels are executed on the device. This includes
setting up an OpenCL context on the host, providing mechanisms for
host–device interaction, and defining a concurrency model used for
kernel execution on devices.
3. Memory model: Defines the abstract memory hierarchy that kernels use,
regardless of the actual underlying memory architecture. The memory
model closely resembles current GPU memory hierarchies, although this
has not limited adoptability by other accelerators.
4. Programming model: Defines how the concurrency model is mapped to
physical hardware.


For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site
http://www.blu.org
Please note that there is usually plenty of free parking in the E-51
parking lot at 2 Amherst St, or directly on Amherst St.

After the meeting we will adjourn to the official after meeting meeting
location at The Cambridge Brewing Company
http://www.cambridgebrewingcompany.com/

--
Jerry Feldman
Boston Linux and Unix