N-MAP: a virtual processor discrete event simulation tool for performance prediction in the CAPSE environment

The CAPSE (Computer Aided Parallel Software Engineering) environment aims to assist a performance oriented parallel program development approach by integrating tools for performance prediction in the design phase, analytical or simulation based performance analysis in the detailed specification and coding phase, and finally monitoring in the testing and correction phase. In this work, the N-MAP tool as part of the CAPSE environment is presented. N-MAP covers the crucial aspect of performance prediction to support a performance oriented, incremental development process of parallel applications such that implementation design choices can be investigated far ahead of the full coding of the application. Methodologically, N-MAP in an automatic parse and translate step generates a simulation program from a skeletal SPMD program, with which the programmer expresses just the constituent and performance critical program parts, subject to an incremental refinement. The simulated execution of the SPMD skeleton supports a variety of performance studies. We demonstrate the use and performance of the N-MAP tool by developing a linear system solver for the CM-5