[Mpi-forum] Reserved MPI_ prefix & namespace in C and Fortran

[Rolf Rabenseifner]

Bronis, Martin, Dave, Kathryn, and all tools people,

Yes, we should also solve this 2nd inconsistency about
defining MPI_Xxxx with real MPI-names when writing a tools layer,
which is inconsistent with the prefix reservation in Sect. 2.6.2-2.6.4
with the original wording and also with the new wording below.

Here, I would propose to relax the prefix reservation defined in 
Sections 2.6.2 - 2.6.4 by a sentence in the tools chapter
that refers to Sect. 2.6.2-2.6.4.

Proposed solution (please take it a s a first draft):
 
Add a new sentence after MPI-2.2, Chapter 14 "Profiling", 
Sect. 14.2 "Discussion", page 454, line 17,
respectively, after MPI-3.0 Draft 2, Section 14.2 "Profiling", 
Sect. 14.2.2 "Discussion", page 558, line 34/35:

  Typically, the profiling interface is used by implementing
  a new application or profiling function that has the same
  name as an MPI routine and internally calls the corresponding 
  PMPI routine; this is an exception to the name prefix 
  reservation rules in Sections 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 on pages 18 and 19.
 
Because this is specific to the profiling layer, I would not
stress the wording in the Terms chapter. The right position
is really the tools chapter.

You, as the tools group may find a better wording and fine grained 
position of this sentence. Important is, that this sentence 
only solves the existing inconsistency, because this is the scope 
of this erratum.

Okay? Better proposals? Comments?

-----------------------------------
Here again the latest version of the text in Sections 2.6.2 - 2.6.4:

C:
>   "Programs must not declare
       names (identifiers), e.g., for variables, functions,
       constants, types, or macros, 
>    beginning with the prefix MPI_."

Fortran:
>   "Programs must not declare
       names, e.g., for variables, subroutines, functions, 
       parameters, derived types, abstract interfaces, or modules,
>    beginning with the prefix MPI_.

and for Fortran also "subroutines and functions" instead of 
only "functions" in the sentence about PMPI_.

C++
>   "Programs must not declare
       names (identifiers), e.g., for variables, functions,
       constants, types, or macros, 
>    in the namespace MPI."
-----------------------------------

Best regards
Rolf

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bronis R. de Supinski" <bronis at llnl.gov>
> To: "Main MPI Forum mailing list" <mpi-forum at lists.mpi-forum.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 2:34:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mpi-forum] Reserved MPI_ prefix & namespace in C and Fortran
> So, while we are debating whether the wording is sufficient,
> we are overlooking a far more important error in the restriction.
> It is simply wrong. The standard is not consistent.
> 
> Specifically, when one uses the MPI profiling interface, the
> mechanism is precisely to declare functions that begin with
> MPI_. So the intent of the standard is that we are supposed
> to violate that restriction. This issue has nagged at me in
> the past but I have simply ignored it. However, I would oppose
> increasing the scope of the restriction without fixing the
> real inconsistency.
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-- 
Dr. Rolf Rabenseifner . . . . . . . . . .. email rabenseifner at hlrs.de
High Performance Computing Center (HLRS) . phone ++49(0)711/685-65530
University of Stuttgart . . . . . . . . .. fax ++49(0)711 / 685-65832
Head of Dpmt Parallel Computing . . . www.hlrs.de/people/rabenseifner
Nobelstr. 19, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany . (Office: Allmandring 30)