Parallelization Using Processes or Threads

Parallelization Using Processes or Threads

The rest of the discussion of parallelization strategies in this chapter will use the word tasks to describe the work being performed and the word thread to describe the instruction stream performing that work. The use of the word thread is purely a convenience. These strategies are applicable to a multithreaded application where there would be a single application with multiple cooperating threads and to a multiprocess application where there would be an application made up of multiple independent processes (with some of the processes potentially having multiple threads).

The trade-offs between the two approaches are discussed in Chapter 1, “Hardware, Processes, and Threads.” Similarly, these patterns do not need to be restricted to a single system. They are just as applicable to situations where the work is spread over multiple systems.