Computation-Centric Memory Models

We present a computation-centric theory of memory models. Unlike traditional processor-centric models, computation-centric models focus on the logical dependencies among instructions rather than the processor that happens to execute them. This theory allows us to define what model is, and to investigate abstract properties of memory models. In particular, we focus on constructibility, which is a necessary property of those models that can be implemented exactly by an online algorithm. For a nonconstructible model, we show that there is a natural way to define the constructible version of that model. We explore the implications of constructibility in the context of dag-consistent memory models, which do not require that memory locations be serialized. The strongest dag-consistent model, called NN-dag consistency, is not constructible. However, its constructible version is equivalent to a model that we call location consistency, in which each location is serialized independently.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1998
• Where: SPAA
• Authors: Matteo Frigo, Victor Luchangco
• Keywords: Dag-consistent Memory Models, Distributed And Parallel Computing, Memory Models, SPAA 1998, Traditional Processor-centric Models