T D C C P-c M C M

A framework for modelling memory consistency is presented. The framework is used to specify the operation of a total-store-order write buffer multiprocessor machine. The framework is used again to specify a more abstract “programmer-centric” model that does not refer to the write-buffer architecture. Finally, we prove that the abstract model correctly captures the computations of the operational model. A mutual exclusion algorithm is used University of Calgary, [email protected] University of Calgary, [email protected] University of Calgary, [email protected] !" #$%%"&'( )* &!" +, -. ! to illustrate the advantage of the programmer-centric memory consistency models and the impact on program correctness of instruction reordering resulting from hardware and software optimizations.