Coven-a framework for high performance problem solving environments

Presents the design of the Coven framework for construction of problem solving environments (PSEs) for parallel computers. PSEs are an integral part of modern high performance computing (HPC) and Coven attempts to simplify PSE construction. Coven targets Beowulf cluster parallel computers but independent of any particular domain for the PSE. Multithreaded parallel applications are created with Coven that are capable of supporting most of the constructs in a typical parallel programming language. Coven uses an agent-based front-end which allows multiple custom interfaces to be constructed. Examples of the use of Coven in the construction of prototype PSEs are shown, and the effectiveness of these PSEs is evaluated in terms of the performance of the applications they generate.