## 10.1.2. Design

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The C++ language interface for MPI is designed according to the following criteria:

1. The C++ language interface consists of a small set of classes with a lightweight functional interface to MPI. The classes are based upon the fundamental MPI object types (e.g., communicator, group, etc.).

2. The MPI C++ language bindings provide a semantically correct interface to MPI.

3. To the greatest extent possible, the C++ bindings for MPI functions are member functions of MPI classes.

Rationale.

Providing a lightweight set of MPI objects that correspond to the basic MPI types is the best fit to MPI's implicit object-based design; methods can be supplied for these objects to realize MPI functionality. The existing C bindings can be used in C++ programs, but much of the expressive power of the C++ language is forfeited. On the other hand, while a comprehensive class library would make user programming more elegant, such a library it is not suitable as a language binding for MPI since a binding must provide a direct and unambiguous mapping to the specified functionality of MPI. ( End of rationale.)
skjellum.lu.ea.95.

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MPI-2.0 of July 18, 1997
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