Concepts of Uniprogramming, Multiprogramming, and Parallel Programming
Uniprogramming
Uniprogramming means one program sits in the main memory at a time. Uniprogramming was used in old computers and mobiles. When the computer starts then the operating system and application programs are loaded into main memory. We only count user programs running in RAM. RAM is also called main memory.
In old operating systems (OS) only one program runs on the computer at a time. Either of the browser, calculator or word processor runs at a time. These types of operating systems in which one program runs at a time are known as Uniprogramming operating systems.
Multiprogramming
In multiprogramming, multiple programs reside in main memory (RAM) at a time. OS which handles multiple programs at a time is known as a multiprogramming operating system. One processor or CPU can only run one process at a time. OS uses context switching in the main memory for running multiple programs. Context switching is to switch programs so all programs are given a suitable amount of time. OS can handle only a limited number of programs. If we run many programs on the computer or mobile, then the computer becomes very slow or unresponsive.
Uniprogramming vs Multiprogramming
In Uniprogramming only one program sits in the main memory so it has a small size. But in the case of multiprogramming main memory needs more space. Uniprogramming system runs smoothly as only one task is run at a time. The slow processor can also work well in Uniprogramming but in multiprogramming processor needs to be fast. In multiprogramming large space of RAM is needed. Fixed-size partition is used in Uniprogramming. Both fixed and variable size partitions can be used in multiprogramming systems.
Example of uniprogramming
- Batch processing in old computers and mobiles
- The old operating system of computers
- Old mobile operating system
Example of multiprogramming: Modern operating systems like Windows XP and Windows 7,8,10
Parallel Programming
In very simple terms, it is the use of multiple resources, in this case, processors, to solve a problem. This type of programming takes a problem, breaks it down into a series of smaller steps, delivers instructions, and processors execute the solutions at the same time. It is also a form of programming that offers the same results as concurrent programming but in less time and with more efficiency. Many computers, such as laptops and personal desktops, use this programming in their hardware to ensure that tasks are quickly completed in the background.
Advantages
There are two major advantages to using this programming over concurrent programming. One is that all processes are sped up when using parallel structures, increasing both the efficiency and resources used in order to achieve quick results. Another benefit is that parallel computing is more cost-efficient than concurrent programming simply because it takes less time to get the same results. This is incredibly important; as parallel processes are necessary for accumulating massive amounts of data into data sets that can be easy to process or for solving complicated problems.
Disadvantages
There are several disadvantages to parallel processing. The first is that it can be difficult to learn; programming that targets parallel architectures can be overwhelming at first, so it does take time to fully understand. Additional, code tweaking is not straightforward and must be modified for different target architectures to properly improve performance. It’s also hard to estimate consistent results because communication of results can be problematic for certain architectures. Finally, power consumption is a problem for those instituting a multitude of processors for various architectures; a variety of cooling technologies will be required in order cool the parallel clusters.
Use
This type of programming can be used for everything from science and engineering to retail and research. It’s most common use from a societal perspective is in web search engines, applications, and multimedia technologies. Nearly every field in America uses this programming in some aspect, whether for research and development or for selling their wares on the web, making it an important part of computer science.
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