OpenCL and 13 Dwarfs

Why OpenCL and 13 Dwarfs:

(1) To provide common algorithmic methods, i.e., dwarfs, in a language that can "run anywhere"(CPU,GPU,or even FPGA), i.e., OpenCL.

        (2) To evaluate and guide architectural innovation. The conventional approach is to study a benchmark suite based on existing programs, e.g., SPEC.

howvever, there are obstacles to innovation in paralle computing with the conventional approach, because we are unclear about how to express a parallel computation best.

        (3) 13 Dwarfs can help us delineate application requirements to not be overly specific to individual applications or the optimizations used for certain hardware platforms. Thus we can draw broader conclusions about hardware requirements.