CSR -- PDOS: Methodologies for Customization of Distributed Algorithms and Middleware

摘要：分布式应用往往需要对底层分布式算法和中间件进行定制，以满足严格的性能要求。这通常是通过手动重新实现部分现有算法来解决的，这既繁琐又容易出错。该项目的目标是为分布式算法和中间件的自动定制开发一个全面的框架。这项工作旨在为定制的各个方面开发技术，其中包括(A)设计可定制的分布式算法和中间件的技术，(B)用于指定规则以识别定制机会的领域特定语言，(C)分析规范以确定何时可以应用定制规则的基础设施，(D)执行执行优化所需的代码转换的工具，以及(E)在许多应用上对开发的技术进行广泛评估。预期的项目成果包括自动定制算法的工具，对通用分布式算法可自动定制的程度的研究，以及适用于不同类别算法的定制类型的特征。这项研究将有助于开发高效的分布式算法，以满足不同应用的需求。该项目的研究成果将用于开发基于组件的分布式系统设计的新课程，以及推进分布式传感器系统领域的多学科活动。将与我们的工业伙伴合作开展技术过渡活动。将努力让本科生和代表不足群体的学生参与研究和教育活动。

Abstract: Distributed applications often require the underlying distributed algorithms and middleware to be customized to meet stringent performance requirements. This is typically addressed by manually re-implementing portions of existing algorithms, which is tedious and error-prone. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive framework for automated customization of distributed algorithms and middleware. The work aims at developing technologies for various aspects of customization, which include (a) techniques to design distributed algorithms and middleware amenable to customization, (b) domain-specific languages for specifying rules to identify customization opportunities, (c) infrastructure to analyze the specifications to determine when customization rules can be applied, (d) tools to perform the code transformations necessary to perform the optimizations, and (e) extensive evaluation of the developed technologies on a number of applications. The expected project outcomes include tools for automatic customization of algorithms, a study of the extent to which generic distributed algorithms can be customized automatically and a characterization of the types of customizations applicable to different classes of algorithms. This research will ease the development of efficient distributed algorithms to meet the requirements of different applications. Research results from this project will be leveraged in developing new courses on component based design of distributed systems, and in advancing multidisciplinary activities in the area of distributed sensor systems. Technology transition activities will be pursued in collaboration with our industrial partners. Efforts will be made to involve undergraduates and students from underrepresented groups in the research and educational activities.