A Java']Java-based parallel programming support environment

We have prototyped a multi-paradigm parallel programming toolkit in Java, specifically targeting an integrated approach on cluster computers. Our JUMP system builds on ideas from the message-passing community as well as from distributed systems technologies. The ever-improving Java development environment allows us access to a number of techniques that were not available using the message-passing systems of the past. In addition to the usual object-oriented programming benefits, these include: language reflection; a rich variety of remote and networking techniques; dynamic class-loading; and code portability. We are using our JUMP model framework to research some of the long sought after parallel programming goals of support for parallel I/O; irregular and dynamic domain decomposition and in particular irregular mesh support. Our system supports the usual messaging primitives although in a more natural style for a modern object oriented program.