APPE: An Arabic Environment for Teaching Parallel
Programming Concepts
AbdulMalik S. Al-Salman
Computer Science Department, King Saud University,
Email: salman@ccis.ksu.edu.sa
 

Abstract:
Parallel computing is increasingly making many applications to perform very efficiently. However, to achieve a high computational efficiency, an algorithm must be designed for execution on a specific parallel machine. It has been observed that teaching parallel programming concepts to students in their early school age makes them to understand more the fundamental differences between parallel and sequential concepts and paradigms. There are also the value-added benefits in understanding if such parallel concepts are taught in the student's mother tongue. However the cost of providing a platform (hardware and software) in a University setup where such concepts can be practiced is prohibitively high. A simulated platform such as the proposed APPE is a more viable alternative and it is inexpensive. APPE does not only provide such an environment where parallel algorithms can be executed, but also facilitates a parallel programming environment in the Arabic language. It provides the programmer with the flexibility of determining the composition of the architectural configuration in order to achieve efficient execution of his/her algorithms.
Keywords: Parallel Computing, Arabic Environment, APPE Design