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%T Parallel\-DB4GL: An implementation of a self\-describing object\-oriented database application generator on transputer hardware
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%A J. P. Gray, F. Poole
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%E Stephen J. Turner
%B OUG\-12: Tools and Techniques for Transputer Applications
%X In general, this research project is concerned with the use
of transputer based parallel hardware to improve the
performance of database software. Specifically, the aim of
the project is the enhancement of a database application
generation system, Data Base 4th Generation Language
(DB4GL), by converting the DB4GL generated database
applications to run on transputer networks.A prototype
Parallel\-DB4GL (P\-DB4GL) system has been designed and
implemented. In P\-DB4GL, the application code modules
generated by DB4GL have been redesigned as concurrent Occam
[InmosSSb] processes. A number of DB4GL data access code
modules (entity handlers and schema handlers) have been
implemented, and used to construct simple database
applications. Additionally, simulations of DB4GL modules not
yet implemented (for example, User Processes and Filer
Processes) have been written, and used in the testing of
these simple database applications.The P\-DB4GL applications
have been test run on a number of different transputer
configurations. Results have been obtained which show
significant performance improvements when applications are
run on small (one to four processors) transputer networks.
The principal benefit comes from the ability to perform
multiple concurrent disc input/ouput, thus increasing disc
throughput, and hence improving overall application
performance. Development and testing of the prototype
P\-DB4GL has confirmed the feasibility of using transputer
based parallel hardware for DB4GL applications. It has
indicated how and where significant performance gains can be
obtained in the full working version of P\-DB4GL, currently
under development.