The Distributed Process Network (DPN) project is developing a disciplined programming model for computational grids. The model uses Kahn's process network model as a formal foundation. A process network is a computational graph that dynamically evolves to satisfy the behaviour or intent of the program. By honouring Kahn's semantics, we can be confident that overall behaviour is independent of implementation strategy. The programming model is influenced in part by the Demeter Method, separating the intent of a program from its implementation. This combination gives us a programming model that is independent of implementation and able to evolve dynamically. Further, a Meta-Object Protocol (MOP) provides a disciplined technique for transparently manipulating why, how and when evolution occurs, enabling a process network to adapt to environmental factors. Our CCGrid'01 poster presents an overview of this work.

Latest News

New API

We are currently documenting a new API for the DPN programming model. The API explicitly seperates the intent of a program from its implementation. See the Javadoc documentation of the API.

PAGIS GUI

Thanks to SmallARC funding, the PAGIS front-end has received a long-overdue facelift. The new front-end replaces the Jade front-end which used Tycho (a graph editor written in OTCL). The new front-end is written in Java using the GEF API (of ArgoUML fame), and is far more maintainable and customizable. See the screen shots.

PAGIS Availability

If you are interested in giving PAGIS a go, email us to obtain access to the PAGIS applet. We are finalizing some bugs and need to start some user-level documentation, but we are keen for feedback.

CCGrid 2001

We presented both a paper and poster at "Cluster Computing and the Grid" (CCGrid 2001) held in Brisbane Australia, May 15-18. The paper presents an experiment in using a MOP for adaptation in the Nexus communications library. We aim to use this MOP (called Gekko) within our programming model. The poster presents an overview of the DPN project, designed to provoke discussion and potential collaboration.

Last updated Monday, July 9th, 2001
Refer all correspondence to Andrew or Darren