Talk:Distributed computing

DC programming languages

The Oz programming language is moving to be a DC language. There had been HP Distributed Smalltalk for CORBA messaging but Smalltalk was not a language for distributed programming. Which languages were and where were they used with a commercial success? G. Robert Shiplett 13:07, 8 June 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Grshiplett (talk • contribs)

Client-Server Architecture

If there's a program running on one computer talking to a program running on a different computer (e.g. ping), is this distributed computing?

If there are many clients running on different computers all talking to one server (e.g. FTP), is this distributed computing?

If there are many clients running on different computers all talking to one server at a time but switching between different servers (e.g. WWW), is this distributed computing?

Is there any case where the client-server architecture on its own (e.g. not including "n-tier", load balancing, parallel processing or any other "more complex than just client-server" scheme) constitutes distributed computing?

In my opinion, a client-server architecture does not constitute distributed computing and should be removed from the list of architectures.

BrendanTrotter (talk) 06:42, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

Why does the first sentence of the Introduction contain the word gay?

Why does the first sentence of the Introduction contain the word gay?

The word distributed in terms such as "distributed system", "distributed programming", and "distributed algorithm" originally referred to computer networks where individual computers were physically gay distributed within some geographical area. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.59.79.147 (talk) 19:11, 12 December 2014 (UTC)

move page to distributed system

I think distributed system is a more appropriate choice for the main article. The first two sentences make it clear why: "distributed computing" is currently defined in terms of "distributed system", not the other way around!

If the consensus agrees, I will make a move request. Caleb Stanford (talk) 06:37, 2 December 2022 (UTC)

@Caleb Stanford I had the same thought; distributed computing refers to using distributed systems to solve computational problems. -- Nczempin (talk) 10:32, 1 January 2023 (UTC)

So since the discussion was closed, maybe we should improve the article on distributed computing, maybe incorporate the acm viewpoint and make the distinction between distributed systems and [the two meanings of, or should the second be "d. computation"?] d.c. clearer? -- Nczempin (talk) 12:55, 11 January 2023 (UTC)

Requested move 8 December 2022

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: no consensus. Minimal participation. (non-admin closure) NasssaNser_talk 09:01, 7 January 2023 (UTC)

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Distributed computing → Distributed system – "Distributed system" is a better choice for the main article and more consistent with modern usage. The first two sentences make it clear why: "distributed computing" is currently defined in terms of "distributed system", not the other way around! Caleb Stanford (talk) 19:05, 8 December 2022 (UTC) — Relisting. – robertsky (talk) 20:18, 16 December 2022 (UTC) — Relisting. echidnaLives - talk - edits 04:19, 30 December 2022 (UTC)

• Unsure. Both terms track each other closely in this Ngram. And there are still lots of books about distributed computing as there are about distributed system. – wbm1058 (talk) 01:31, 24 December 2022 (UTC)

  I wouldn't mind distributed computing as the title but it probably requires a lead rewrite; the current lead is about distributed systems. Caleb Stanford (talk) 22:41, 24 December 2022 (UTC)

@Caleb Stanford Distributed computing refers to the use of distributed systems to perform computational tasks. It involves dividing a computational problem into smaller tasks, which can be solved concurrently by multiple computers that communicate with each other over a network. I would say that is how the term is primarily used in the field. However, distributed computing could also be interpreted as "doing anything with computers that is distributed". however in cs courses the subject is usually called distributed systems. that said, the ACM, in its CS curriculum guidelines, has introduced a piece of the "body of knowledge" called "Parallel and Distributed Computing" and put Distributed Systems under it (but has not provided a term that combines P&D). So perhaps the field that concentrates on CPU bound topics should be "distributed computation"? -- Nczempin (talk) 11:45, 1 January 2023 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.