One method of implementation of LISP interpreter to transputers


Jozef Kratica




The paper describes one method of implementation of LISP interpreter to transputers. Developed interpreter contains standard functions common for almost all LISP versions. Architecture is binary tree message passing. Implementation was developed on transputer parallel C language (ANSI C with procedures for interprocessor communications and synchronization). Part intended for evaluation of functions (expressions) was parallelized, but I/O operation and parsing were sequential. This is caused by the technical limitations of transputer systems, because I/O operations can executed only by first transputer, and interprocessor communication is slow. Maxima increase in speed equals 6.5 times, on transputer system with 17 transputers T800, by as compared to single transputer T800. That increase in speed is obtained for recursive problems demanding much computing. Small increase in speed is obtained for problems ivith more I/O operations.