here - Stefan-Marr.de

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C O N T E X T A N D M O T I VAT I O N
This chapter introduces the context for this dissertation. It motivates the need
for multi-language virtual machines (VMs) and argues that their rudimentary
support for parallel and concurrent programming needs to be extended
to maintain the versatility of these VMs in the multicore era. Furthermore, it
defines concurrent programming and parallel programming deviating from existing
literature to overcome the shortcomings of the existing definitions. The
newly proposed definitions enable a classification of programming concepts
based on intent and purpose to facilitate the discussion in the later chapters.
Based on that, this chapter gives a brief overview of concurrent and parallel
programming concepts as a foundation for the remainder of this dissertation.
Finally, the chapter concludes by combining the different elements to envision
how applications are built when developers are able to utilize appropriate abstractions
to tackle the challenges of concurrency and parallelism.
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