Runtime systems are critical to the implementation of parallel programming languages and libraries. They provide the core functionality of a particular programming model and the glue between the model and the underlying hardware and operating system. As such, runtime systems have a large impact on the performance and portability of parallel programming systems.

Despite the importance of runtime systems, there are few forums in which practitioners can exchange their ideas, and these are typically forums showcasing peripheral areas, such as languages, operating systems, and parallel computing. RTSPP provides a forum for bringing together runtime system designers from various backgrounds to discuss the state-of-the-art in designing and implementing runtime systems for parallel programming. This one-day workshop includes technical sessions of refereed papers and panel discussions.

The focus of the workshop is on the design and implementation of runtime systems for parallel programming languages and libraries. While the problem domain is restricted to parallel programming, papers that deal with fundamental issues in runtime systems that are applicable to parallel programming systems are also encouraged.

The topics for the workshop include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Techniques to reduce the tension between portability and efficiency in runtime systems
• Relationship between runtime systems and programming models
• Interfaces between compiler-generated code and runtime systems
• Operating system support for runtime systems
• Performance evaluation of runtime systems
• The design and implementation of runtime systems for [PC] clusters and high-speed networks
• The design and implementation of thread systems
• Runtime systems for distributed shared memory
• Extensibility and adaptability in runtime systems

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts that demonstrate original and unpublished research in the area of runtime systems that support parallel programming. Accepted papers will be published by the IPPS/SPDP organization, both on paper and CD-ROM. One of the authors will be required to attend the workshop and present the work.

All submissions must be completed papers whose length --- including abstract, figures, bibliographies, and appendices --- does not exceed 3 US letter (8.5" x 11"; no A4 please) pages; papers longer than 3 pages will be summarily rejected. Text must be set in no smaller than a 10 pt font, be single-spaced and single-columned, and include page numbers. Each paper will be reviewed by the program committee. It is expected that Springer-Verlag will publish the accepted papers (which will be given additional pages) in their Lecture Notes series.

Submit an electronic version of your complete manuscript in uuencoded, gzipped, postscript format to: rtspp@cs.ucdavis.edu. Please do not send your paper as an attachment (e.g., MIME). Please use standard postscript fonts (Times, Helvetica, Courier) and ensure that the postscript file is viewable using the "ghostview" tool. The corresponding author is requested to include at the start of the message containing the paper:

1. complete postal address
2. e-mail address
3. phone number
4. fax number
5. a list of keywords

October  30, 1998:  Papers due.
December  7, 1998:  Notification sent to authors.
January   8, 1999:  Final copies due for publication in the proceedings.