massC

massC is a lightweight, open-source programming language designed for concurrency and distributed computing. It extends the C programming language by introducing constructs that simplify the development of parallel and distributed applications. The language aims to provide a familiar syntax to C programmers while offering high-level abstractions for managing threads, processes, and network communication.

Developed as an academic research project, massC was created to address challenges in writing scalable and fault-tolerant software. Its core features include built-in support for asynchronous programming, message-passing between processes, and automatic load balancing. The language compiles to native code, ensuring performance comparable to traditional C programs while abstracting away much of the complexity involved in low-level concurrency control.

massC’s design emphasizes simplicity and modularity, allowing developers to incrementally adopt concurrency features. It supports both shared-memory and distributed computing models, making it versatile for a range of applications, from high-performance computing to cloud-based services. The language also includes tools for debugging and profiling concurrent programs, aiding in the development of robust and efficient software.

While massC remains primarily an experimental language, its principles have influenced other concurrency-focused extensions to C. It is often used in educational settings to teach parallel programming concepts and in research to explore new paradigms in distributed systems. The project continues to evolve, with ongoing work focused on improving its tooling and expanding its standard library.