itaps-parallel Use cases for iMeshP

[Tim Tautges]

Hi gang,
   I started out writing a response to Karen's document she sent last week or the week before, then decided I needed a 
better starting point from which to evaluate the proposed iMeshP interface.  I came up with the attached 3 use cases.  I 
would encourage all to think about their iMeshP implementations in the context of these use cases, to see if their 
design will enable these use cases as described.  I've taken pains to avoid prescribing any iMeshP design decisions in 
these use cases; if I've fallen short on any of them in this regard, please point them out.  Note that some of them say 
things about how the calculation is distributed over processes; this is fair game, I think, since it's how the apps 
developers will approach our interface (i.e. they'll decide beforehand how they want to partition the problem over 
processes).

If anybody has use case(s) which are substantially different from the space covered by those in this document, please 
suggest them.  The idea is to keep the number of use cases somewhat low, but to fairly represent the bulk of the space 
we expect to cover with iMeshP.  At some point, I imagine this document going into the repo or (heaven forbid) some sort 
of paper published in the distant future.

I've written how my design will work for the first two use cases, and so far so good (though the 2nd one isn't trivial 
to understand).  I'm pretty sure the 3rd use case will be easier (for me), but we'll see.

I'm sending this out partly to help others get started thinking about their designs in the context of realistic use 
cases, and partly to reassure Karen that I'm doing something about her message, despite the radio silence :).

- tim

-- 
================================================================
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is
   steadfast, because he trusts in you."               Isaiah 26:3

              Tim Tautges            Argonne National Laboratory
          (tautges at mcs.anl.gov)      (telecommuting from UW-Madison)
          phone: (608) 263-8485      1500 Engineering Dr.
            fax: (608) 263-4499      Madison, WI 53706

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