Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenSHMEM, and how is it different from SHMEM?
OpenSHMEM is a standard for SHMEM library implementations. Many SHMEM libraries exist but they do not conform to a particular standard and have similar but not identical APIs and behavior, which hinders portability.
Why should I use OpenSHMEM?
- Follows the PGAS programming model hence it inherits all the advantages of having a global address space along with a private space for each processor
- When implementations support RDMA, this allows direct access to remote data without involving the target
- OpenSHEMM is a library, so no special compiler support or language extensions are required
Where can I learn more about OpenSHMEM?
More information about the OpenSHMEM project can be found under the Documentation Section.
Who is working on OpenSHMEM?
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- University of Houston
- U.S. Department of Energy