Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Parallel execution
Also known as: Parallelism, Parallel processing
German: Parallele Ausführung
In computing, parallel execution is the simultaneous execution of several tasks or instructions on multiple processor cores or processing units at the same instant.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
Parallel execution runs several tasks at the same instant on multiple processor cores or processing units.
Example
A multicore controller runs the motion task on one core and the communication and HMI tasks on another, so network load cannot delay axis control.
How it applies
- Engineering: Parallel execution raises throughput and can isolate time-critical tasks on dedicated cores. It also exposes every shared variable to true simultaneous access, so synchronization and Thread safety become essential.
- Verification: Defects such as a Race condition may appear only under particular timing, so parallel code needs design review and targeted tests, not only functional tests.
- Documentation: For multicore controllers, document how tasks are assigned to cores and what users may configure, because moving tasks between cores changes timing.
Parallel execution vs. concurrency
Concurrency means several tasks are in progress during the same period and may interleave on one core. Parallel execution means they literally run at the same instant on different cores. Parallelism is one way to realize concurrency.