Spatial Programming with OpenSPL

Abstract

In this chapter we present OpenSPL, a novel programming language that enables designers to describe their computational structures in space and benefit from parallelism at multiple levels. We start with our motivation why spatial programming is currently among the most promising approaches for building future computing systems in Sect. 5.1. In Sect. 5.2 we introduce the basic principles behind OpenSPL and exemplify them with few simple examples targeting the first commercial offering of a Spatial Computer system by Maxeler Technologies. We validate the potential of Spatial Computers in Sect. 5.3 and conclude in Sect. 5.4.