Automatic vectorization of character string manipulation and relational operations in Pascal

In our paper of Supercomputing '88, an overview of V-Pascal, an automatic vectorizing compiler for Pascal, was presented with focus on its Version 1. In that paper, as one of those higher functions to be added to Version 2 V-Pascal, vector-mode execution of nonnummeric operations such as relational database operations and nonnumeric data manipulations was considered. This paper describes the actual results we have obtained. These results are important in that a new vista has been opened up for vector supercomputers which are originally designed solely for high-speed manipulations of scientific numerical data. More concretely, the compiler V-Pascal has acquired the ability to automatically vectorize Pascal programs that compare/assign massive data of character strings and those programs which prescribe time-consuming relational operations such as 'join' and others for relational database manipulation. Timing results demonstrate that these nonnumeric operations are performed in the regime of vector performance.