Sequential simulation of newly designed systems such as computers and
VLSI components is often very time consuming. Parallel simulation can
significantly speed the process. However, appropriate language support
is needed to make the complex, underlying parallel mechanisms transpa
rent to users. Achieving transparency and providing functionality requ
ire careful solutions to a number of parallel processing issues. The a
uthors address several difficulties involved in designing languages fo
r parallel discrete-event simulation and survey current approaches to
these problems.