[Tcllib-devel] Distributed computing anyone?

[Arjen M. <arj...@wl...>]

Hello all,

Michael Schlenker and I were just discussing a possible new are of interest
in Tcllib: distributed computing.

First of all, let me explain what the two of us mean by "distributed 
computing":
Two or more programs (either running on the same computer or on different
computers) share information, so that they can both progress in their task.

Examples:
- The tkchat is such a system - a whole bunch of people talking to each 
other.
- SOAP is a well-known protocol that allows programs (processes) to share
  information.
- GRID computing where large-scale computational programs running
  on all kinds of computers cooperate to predict the global climate for 
the next
  100 years.

Mind you: we are not out to create something that will encompass all such
forms of distributed computing!

Let me outline our intended audience:
The average programmer knows of multithreading and multiprocessing
as powerful techniques to enhance the performance of their programs.
Or they know of client-server techniques to allow several people to
use their system. Multithreading is notoriously hard to get right.
Client-server systems are much easier - if you use Tcl :).

The programmers and users we envision do not have massive
computer networks for doing their job. Just a couple of boxes that
could be used in some biggish computation but right now it is too much
work to get them cooperating.

What if we had a framework where such people could plug in their
various programs with only little adaptations. Tcl and Tcllib have
a lot of tools for doing this. So all that is needed is a bit of 
infrastructure.

Given the variety of tools  (secure  connections or not for instance), that
infrastructure could be tuned to their needs with just a few switches.

I propose to discuss either on this list or on the Wiki the outlines of
such an infrastructure and to go ahead and assemble it from the tools
we have when there is enough clarity about it.

Regards,

Arjen