This paper describes a new workflow model and its implementation in Smalltalk. The paper also details problems with using a RDBMS as the persistent store for the workflow tool and the subsequent experiences in using an ODBMS for this purpose. The final solution was a coexistence approach, using the RDBMS for legacy corporate data and the ODBMS for the process description and workflow status data.

Multiprocessors have long been of interest to computer community. They provide the potential for accelerating applications through parallelism and increased throughput for large multi-user system. Three factors have limited the commercial success of multiprocessor systems; entry cost, range of performance, and ease of application. Advances in very large scale integration (VLSI) and in computer aided design (CAD) have removed these limitations, making possible a new class of multiprocessor systems based on VLSI components. A set of requirements for building an efficient shared multiprocessor system are discussed, including: low-level mutual exclusion, interrupt distribution, inter-processor signaling, process dispatching, caching, and system configuration. A system that meets these requirements is described and evaluated.