What are some examples of non-Von Neumann architectures?
If I understand correctly modern computers are modeled after the Von Neumann architecture. I have sometimes seen reference to alternatives, but haven't really seen any very good descriptions of how non-Von Neumann architectures would be organised and function.
Does anyone have any examples? What are the advantages/disadvantages of alternative computer organization?
Answer
Examples of non von Neumann machines are the dataflow machines and the reduction machines. In both of these cases there is a high degree of parallelism, and instead of variables there are immutable bindings between names and constant values. non von Neumann is usually reserved for machines that represent a radical departure from the von Neumann model, and is therefore not normally applied to multiprocessor or multicomputer architectures, which effectively offer a set of cooperating von Neumann machines.