| CODE | CSA3201 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Concurrency, HPC and Distributed Computing | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Computer Science | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides an introduction to concurrent, parallel and distributed computing. The lecture-based component outlines the essential concepts and subsequently covers a series of algorithms and programming techniques from the literature. Through the practical component, students will have the opportunity to program a parallel computer and then measure and analyse its performance. Studyunit Aims: At a high level, the study unit aims to: ● highlight the application of concurrency, parallelism and distribution in contemporary computing; ● present and critique an assortment of algorithms from the concurrent, parallel and distributed computing literature; ● expose students to the practice of programming parallel computers; ● familiarise students with the measurement, analysis and optimisation of parallel program performance. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study unit the student should be able to: ● compare and contrast different approaches to expressing concurrency in computer software; ● recall and discuss manifestations of parallelism in modern computer systems; ● compare and contrast various concurrent, parallel and distributed algorithms and programming techniques; ● demonstrate an awareness of limiting factors in the performance of parallel systems at scale. 2. Skills: By the end of the study unit the student should be able to: ● design and implement application software for distributed memory parallel computer systems such as HPC clusters; ● design and implement application software for shared memory parallel computer systems as exemplified by multi-core processors; ● calculate and analyse performance metrics such as the speedup and efficiency of parallel programs. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE CPS1000 AND TAKE CPS1004 AND TAKE CPS2003 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Keith Bugeja Kevin Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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