C++ AMP (Accelerated Massive Parallelism) is a small set of open specification language extensions (two of them) and a single library (amp.h) that makes general purpose GPU programming (aka GPGPU) a first class, seamless experience in modern C++.
You've been able to experiment with C++ AMP since the VS11 Developer Preview back in September 2011. We figured it was a good time to go C9 on the C++ AMP team. So, we did. Four interviews have been conducted that pretty thoroughly cover C++ AMP and the people who design, implement, and test it. C++ AMP is a great technology for native developers seeking to harness the power of the GPU using the language and tools they are already comfortable with. C++ AMP is also an open specification and we'll see other compiler vendors producing C++ AMP implementations for their target platforms soon—that's been the goal since Day 1.
Get VC++11 Beta Now - test out AMP!
Here, we meet the legendary Daniel Moth. Daniel's actually been on C9 a few times and his technical screencasts are among the very best that have been produced for C9 (please make more, Daniel!!). Daniel is the C++ AMP program manager (PM).
PMs are responsible for documenting the vision, building the execution plans to turn the vision into a real project, manage the project to completion, ship the result of the project and to attract and work with customers to help them understand what the product means for them and why it matters to their business. It's quite a job. Daniel is one part of a team of engineers that consists of program management (Daniel), architecture (Yossi Levanoni is one of the architects of AMP and you'll meet him (again) in one these interviews), development (you'll meet the AMP dev team soon, round-table style), and test (you'll meet the AMP test team soon, hallway-tour style).
So, tell us what C++ AMP is and why it matters, Daniel. Give us some context and history. What's going on here? What's next?
Tune in and meet the people behind the restrict(ion)s, kernels, etc. It's GPGPU time on C9. Enjoy.
See Part 2 - Yossi Levanoni: AMP Architecture and Design
See Part 3 - The AMP Development Team Roundtable
See Part 4 - The AMP Test Team Hallway Office Tour
Clik here to view.
