Newsgroups: comp.parallel.pvm
From: lederman@b125.super.org (Steve Huss-Lederman)
Subject: request for MPI-2 input
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center, Bowie MD, USA
Date: Wed, 24 May 1995 20:05:56 GMT
Message-ID: <LEDERMAN.95May24160556@b125.super.org>

The MPIF (Message Passing Interface Forum) has begun to meet again to
discuss a second round of the MPI standard.  Part of this effort will
involve defining external interfaces so that important functionality
can be layered on top of MPI.  For example, allowing portable parallel
debuggers and profilers on top of MPI is a desirable goal.  The MPIF
is interested in supporting general functions and not functionality
that will only be used by a very small group.  For example, an
application may need to create a specific object to deal with a
non-blocking collective operation it defines.  Instead of creating a
specific object, the MPIF would prefer to create a general mechanism
to deal with user defined requests (something under development).  One
type of functionality that needs defining is what opaque objects need
to be exposed.  For example, looking at internal parts of the MPI
communicator.

The MPIF is seeking input to help define this functionality.
Responses should be sent to the MPIF mailing list for external
interfaces (mpi-external@mcs.anl.gov).  The MPIF would like to thank
you for your time and efforts.  Input now is the best and easiest way
to have what you want in the next version of the MPI standard.

P.S. - Information on MPI and MPIF can be found at
http://www.mcs.anl.gov/Projects/mpi/index.html. 

