Software strategy for multiprocessors

The task of writing basic system software for a multiprocessor system is simplified if the system is organized so that it may be programmed as a single virtual machine. This strategy is considered for tightly coupled real time systems with many processors. Software is written in a high level language supporting parallel execution (such as concurrent PASCAL, MODULA or ADA) without knowledge of the target hardware configuration. The Demos system is discussed as an example of such an approach.