Introducing a new way to structure programs: This groundbreaking paper proposes using input and output as fundamental primitives in programming. Parallel composition of communicating sequential processes offers a versatile method for structuring complex software. This idea aims to simplify program design and enhance modularity. The author combines these concepts with Dijkstra's guarded command, showing surprising versatility. The paper illustrates this approach with sample solutions for familiar programming exercises. This exploration aims to demonstrate the power and elegance of communicating sequential processes as a core programming paradigm. The concepts in this paper have profoundly influenced the design of concurrent programming languages and systems. The approach has had an effect on areas such as operating systems, distributed computing, and parallel processing. This seminal work laid the foundation for future developments in concurrent programming and software architecture.
Appearing in Communications of the ACM, a flagship publication in computer science, this paper addresses fundamental aspects of programming. The paper proposes a novel approach to structuring programs, a core topic in the field. The use of examples and clear explanations make the concepts accessible to a broad audience.