We evaluate a new visual process modeling language (PML), called the Virtual Reality Process Modeling Language (VRPML). This evaluation utilizes the well-known ISPW-6 benchmark problem as well as the waterfall development model as case studies, and offers comparison with other PMLs where possible. In addition to providing insights into the strengths and limitations of VRPML, this evaluation highlights important lessons learned and offers valuable guidance for the design of next-generation PMLs.

Process modeling languages (PMLs) are languages used to express software process models. Process centered software engineering environments (PSEEs) are the environments used to define, modify, analyze and enact a process model. While both PMLs and PSEEs are important, it is the characteristics of PMLs that are the focus of the article, which leads to a taxonomy different from that presented in other work primarily with the inclusion of important human dimension issues (e.g. awareness support) from computer supported cooperative work (CSCW).

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This paper focuses on the problem of fault tolerance in shared memory multiprocessors, and describes an architecture designed for transparently tolerating processor failures. The Recoverable Shared Memory (RSM) is the novel component of this architecture, providing a hardware supported backward error recovery mechanism which minimizes the propagation of recovery when a processor fails. The RSM permits a shared memory multiprocessor to be constructed using standard caches and cache coherence protocols, and does not require any changes to be made to applications software. The performance of the recovery scheme supported by the RSM is evaluated and compared with other schemes that have been proposed for fault tolerant shared memory multiprocessors. The performance study has been conducted by simulation using address traces collected from real parallel applications.

The recovery block scheme has been introduced as a method of providing fault tolerance at the software level in a computing system. From the widespread interest that has been expressed in the scheme there appears to be a standard set of questions which are posed about its implementation and utility. This paper presents a brief overview of the recovery block scheme and then examines in detail the issued that these questions raise.

Backward error recovery (that is, resetting an erroneous state of a system to a previous error-free state) is an important general technique for recovery from faults in a system, especially those faults which were not foreseen. However, the provision of backward error recovery can be complex, particularly if the implementation of the system is "multilever" and recovery is to be provided at a number of these levels. This paper discusses two distinct categories of multilevel system, and then examines in detail the issues involved in providing backward error recovery in both types of system.