Hey there friends! Are you ready to geek out with me and talk about some high-performance computing? I know, I know, you're probably like "But wait, isn't this supposed to be a humor post?" Well, of course it is! When I'm done with you, you'll be laughing all the way to the data center.
Computing Magazine October 2012
First up, we have this gem from the yesteryears of 2012. Can you believe it? Back then, we were all just a bunch of computing noobs, trying to figure out the difference between a kilobyte and a megabyte. Ah, simpler times.
Tip: If you're feeling particularly nostalgic, fire up a virtual machine of Windows 7 and read this issue in all its glory. Bonus points if you print it out and pretend you're back in the early 2010s.
Computing Magazine December 2012
What's this? Another issue from 2012? No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. This is indeed a different issue, with even more computing goodness to sink your teeth into. And what's that on the cover? "The Future of Computing"? Pfft, as if we could predict what's going to happen in this industry. It's like predicting the weather in England - you might as well toss a coin.
Idea: Want to feel sad and old? Try reading articles about future technology from 8 years ago and realize how little progress we've actually made. Oh, the humanity!
High Performance Computing (HPC): Everything You Need to Know
Okay, okay, enough with the nostalgia. Let's talk about some modern-day HPC. This article has everything you need to know about it, so you can impress your colleagues with your newfound knowledge. Did you know that HPC is used in everything from weather forecasting to drug discovery? Yes, that's right, while you're reading this post, people are using supercomputers to save lives and prevent natural disasters. Makes you feel kinda small, doesn't it?
How-to: Want to get started with HPC? It's not as daunting as it sounds! Just head on over to a cloud provider like AWS or Azure and spin up some instances. Then, install some scientific computing software like MATLAB or R and start crunching some numbers. You'll be curing diseases in no time!
High Performance Computing: Programming and Applications - CRC Press Book
"Wait a minute," you're probably saying, "books are still a thing?" Well, believe it or not, they are! And this book has everything you need to know about programming for HPC. From parallel programming paradigms to MPI and OpenMP, this book will make you a veritable HPC wizard. Just be careful not to let all this knowledge go to your head, or you might start speaking in nothing but acronyms.
Tip: If you're feeling particularly fancy, you can prop this book up on your desk and pretend you're reading it, even if you're just watching cat videos on YouTube. Hey, we won't judge.
High Performance Computing: Technology, Methods and Applications
"But wait," you're saying again (man, you really like to interrupt, don't you?), "what about the technology behind HPC? Surely that's important too?" Well, you're absolutely right, and this book will take you on a deep dive into the technology, methods, and applications of HPC. From clusters to grids to clouds, this book has it all. Just be prepared to have your mind blown by all the different ways you can configure a supercomputer.
Idea: Want to impress your friends? Drop some knowledge bombs about HPC technology at your next party. Just make sure they're not actually bombs, because that would be a major party foul.
High-Performance Computing (HPC), Explained
Are you still with me? Good, because we're not done yet! This Cyclopedia article will explain HPC in terms even your grandma can understand. And don't worry, we won't tell her you needed help understanding it too.
How-to: Want to really get in the weeds with HPC? Try building your own cluster from scratch! Just grab some old computers, install a Linux distribution like CentOS or Ubuntu, and configure a job scheduler like SLURM or Torque. Then, bask in the warm glow of knowing you built a supercomputer with your bare hands. Well, maybe not bare hands, that would be dangerous.
High-Performance Computing Using FPGAs (English) Paperback Book Free
What's that? Did someone say "free book"? Yes, indeed! This book will teach you how to use field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for HPC. And the best part is, it's completely free! Why? Well, we're not sure either, but we're not complaining. Just don't tell the publishers we're recommending it for free, or we might get in trouble.
Tip: Want to be super eco-friendly? Try using FPGAs for HPC instead of traditional CPUs. FPGAs are more power-efficient and generate less heat, which means you'll be doing your part to save the planet. Just don't tell your boss, or he might make you switch all your servers over to FPGAs and blame you when everything breaks.
Center for High Performance Computing in South Africa | Contemporary
And finally, let's take a trip down south to South Africa, where the Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) is making waves in the HPC world. Did you know that the fastest supercomputer in Africa is located in Cape Town at the CHPC? That's right, Africa is not just lions and zebras, they're also doing some serious computing down there.
Idea: Want to broaden your horizons? Try attending a conference or workshop outside your home country. Who knows, you might even learn some new technologies or meet some interesting people. Just make sure you pack enough snacks, because airplane food is terrible.
Well folks, that's all for now! We hope you enjoyed our little adventure through the world of high-performance computing. And remember, no matter how daunting it may seem, anyone can get into HPC with a little bit of persistence and a lot of caffeine.