OpenMP releases new 3.1 OpenMP 3.1 spec

The OpenMP ARB has released Version 3.1 of the OpenMP specification—featuring minor and total compatibility with 2008 Version 3.0. The new version highlights the addition of predefined min and max reduction operators for C++ and C and extensions to the atomic construct to allow the value of the updated variable to be captured or overwritten. It also includes a mechanism to bind threads to processors and additions to support optimizations within the OpenMP tasking model.

"Version 3.1 represents a significant effort on the part the OpenMP Language Committee and lays the ground work for future extensions to better support emerging hardware directions," stated Bronis R. de Supinski, OpenMP language committee chair. "We expect these extensions will improve usability and performance. Concurrent to our work on Version 3.1, we have also made progress on several significant enhancements to the specification that we expect to serve as the basis for our next version. Topics under consideration include support for accelerators such as GPUs, major enhancements to the tasking model, mechanisms to handle runtime errors and general user defined reductions," added de Supinski.