Michael Voss - Pro TBB: C++ Parallel Programming with Threading Building Blocks

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Think Parallel

We have aimed to make this book useful for those who are new to parallel programming as well as those who are expert in parallel programming. We have also made this book approachable for those who are comfortable only with C programming, as well as those who are fluent in C++.

In order to address this diverse audience without dumbing down the book, we have written this Preface to level the playing field.

TBB is a solution for writing parallel programs in C++ which has become the most popular, and extensive, support for parallel programming in C++. It is widely used and very popular for a good reason. More than 10 years old, TBB has stood the test of time and has been influential in the inclusion of parallel programming support in the C++ standard. While C++11 made major additions for parallel programming, and C++17 and C++2x take that ever further, most of what TBB offers is much more than what belongs in a language standard. TBB was introduced in 2006, so it contains support for pre-C++11 compilers. We have simplified matters by taking a modern look at TBB and assuming C++11. Common advice today is if you dont have a C++11 compiler, get one. Compared with the 2007 book on TBB, we think C++11, with lambda support in particular, makes TBB both richer and easier to understand and use.

TBB is simply the best way to write a parallel program in C++, and we hope to help you be very productive in using TBB.

For those new to parallel programming, we offer this Preface to provide a foundation that will make the remainder of the book more useful, approachable, and self-contained. We have attempted to assume only a basic understanding of C programming and introduce the key elements of C++ that TBB relies upon and supports. We introduce parallel programming from a practical standpoint that emphasizes what makes parallel programs most effective. For experienced parallel programmers, we hope this Preface will be a quick read that provides a useful refresher on the key vocabulary and thinking that allow us to make the most of parallel computer hardware.

After reading this Preface, you should be able to explain what it means to Think Parallel in terms of decomposition, scaling, correctness, abstraction, and patterns. You will appreciate that locality is a key concern for all parallel programming. You will understand the philosophy of supporting task programming instead of thread programming