A Language for Concurrent Processing based on Petri Nets

Abstract

Programming distributed computer systems is still a complicated, error-prone, and time-consuming task. There are many approaches to make this task more feasible; coordination languages constitute one of these. They separate the specification of communication structures from the algorithmic behavior of the processes. The coordination language K2 to be proposed here is based on a variant of colored Petri nets. Colored Petri nets offer many advantages over other approaches for the specification of distributed systems like an intuitive graphical representation, a well-defined semantics making them amenable for formal analysis, and the possibility of interactive simulations which allow for the validation of the process system. K2 is a very restricted approach; it primarily defines process systems with deterministic behavior but also allows for controlled forms of non-determinism. It provides net abstractions to facilitate the systematic construction of complex systems from small subsystems. Recursive specifications can be used to adapt the structure of a process system to varying input parameters.
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Claus Aßmann <ca@informatik.uni-kiel.de>