Would distributed networking and multicore programming be considered parallel computing in CS definition?

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It seems logically yes, but I want to be certain thus I’m asking here.

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  • Being parallel is more with the algorithm than the quantity of devices working on it.

    Many things can be considered “parallel”, even computing with a single machine with a single core. The OS will “time-slice” between multiple processes so that they are “conceptually parallel” even if in actual fact they are not.

    When you have multiple processors, be they in different cores, different CPU’s, or different cities, then they run in parallel ALMOST by definition. Be careful though, some algorithms are inherently NOT parallel, no matter how many processors you throw at it. There are occasions where one step MUST be completed before the next step begins, in which case having multiple processors can not provide much parallelism.

    Consider the old saying: you can’t get a baby in one month by hiring nine women.

    But yes, combine a parallel algorithm, or an algorithm that can be made parallel, with multiple processors, however they are spread, and you have parallel computing.
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