% Lieber Peter, 
% bitte ersetze die SW-Form von mir durch diese Datei: er sollte keine
% Modifikationen benoetigen.
%
% Barbara
%
% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
%
%                                  Hans Wolfgang Loidl, RISC-Linz,  31.10.1991 
%
% This is a template file of the SW-form!
%
% Changes:    <By whom>, <When>, <What changes> 
%
% H.W.  Loidl, 7.11.1991, Title in \bf style, contents of
%                         `Functions' in \tt style
%
%  SW-form for registering the software products that are installed
%  on a machine in the ACPC network. 
%  NOTE: This is no independent LaTex file. It has to be included in the 
%        file that describes the corresponding ACPC group
%        or in a `frame' LaTex file (see `sw-frame.tex') where
%        formating information etc is given.
%        All SW-forms should be included into the group description file
%        after the included HW-form.
%
% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


\subsubsection*{\bf \LARGE PICL}

\begin{itemize}
 \item {\bf Name:} Portable Instrumented Communication Library, Version 1.92
 % Full name and version of the software product (sw-p).

 \item {\bf Location:} /newpicl
 (documentation in /picl-org)
 % Full path of the sw-p (references to other
                   % important directories might be included here).

 \item {\bf Type:}  
  Library package for portable parallel programming
  % What sort of sw-p is this?
                   % Possible entries are: (Parallelizing) Compiler, Debugger,
                   % Editor, Computer Algebra System etc.

 \item {\bf Characterization:} 
PICL provides a library of routines which may be used instead of the native
communication routines on any machine on which it is installed. Timestamped
trace data is generated, automatically or as specified by the user
(communication, idle times, events).
% A short description of what the sw-p
                           % does (no longer than 50 words).

 \item {\bf Software Description:}     % Description of the main features of the 
                        % sw-p.
                        % This should include the following subtopics:
PICL provides portable syntax for parallel programs across several 
multiprocessor systems, including the Intel hypercubes and simulator, the
Delta, the NCUBE and Cogent systems. It contains routines for communication
primitives, such as {\em send} and {\em receive}, and related
system calls, and widely-used higher routines such as global summing and
broadcasts.

It also has a built-in tracing facility, which may be controlled by the
user. This enables the gathering of data on interprocessor communication,
processor idle times, and user-defined events. A separate software 
package, ParaGraph, displays the tracing output
graphically. This is currently installed on our local SUN network only.
However, versions of ParaGraph are available for several types of workstation.
Contact the  system administrator for information on obtaining the source code.

The most convenient way to use the PICL routines is to include the 
appropriate library at compile time. Separate libraries for the host and
node code have been generated and are to be found in the directory /newpicl.
Examples of usage of the routines are to be found in the User's Guide (see
below).

Our installation comprises the library packages and the source code for the
libraries in the subdirectories picl and port. Note that this version has been
optimized for use on the iPSC/860. The original version of the PICL libraries
is available in source form only in the directory /picl-org and its 
subdirectories. 

%\begin{itemize}
%        \item {Invocation:}  {\tt } % How to start the sw-p.
%        \item {Termination:} {\tt } % How to leave the sw-p.
%        \item {Help:}        {\tt } % How to get help.
%        \item {Example:}     {\tt } % An Example of a typical session with the usage
                                    % of some important features.
%        \item {Other important functions:}  {\tt } % A list of important functions.
%       \end{itemize}

 \item {\bf Installation:}  % Which environment vars have to be set, etc.

 The appropriate libraries should be linked in when the host and node programs
 are compiled. A description of how to do this is to be found in README-USAGE.

 \item {\bf Manuals:}       
 There are two manuals. The user's guide is located in userguide.tex (and .sty).
 The C reference manual is provided in cref.tex. Both are located in the
 directory /picl-org. These document the original version of PICL. The
 modifications are described in the two upgrade files in /newpicl.
 Note that there is currently no Fortran reference manual.
 % Name, location and version of the manuals for this
                            % sw-p.
 
\end{itemize}


