Persistent Memory PMEM: Architecture to Advanced Development

Course Introduction:

Dive deep into the world of Persistent Memory (PMEM), a revolutionary technology that bridges the gap between traditional memory and storage. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to harness PMEM for high-performance applications. Whether you’re a developer, systems architect, or tech enthusiast, you’ll explore PMEM’s architecture, development kits, and advanced programming techniques to push the boundaries of data management.

Section 1: Foundations of Persistent Memory

Section Overview:
This section lays the groundwork, introducing Persistent Memory’s architecture, its unique characteristics, and the hardware and software ecosystems that support it.

• Lecture 1: Welcome to the World of Persistent Memory
  Get an overview of the course objectives, learning outcomes, and what you can expect in the coming modules.
• Lecture 2: What Is Persistent Memory?
  Understand the fundamental concept of PMEM, how it differs from traditional memory and storage, and why it’s a game-changer.
• Lecture 3: The Significance of Persistent Memory
  Explore the critical role PMEM plays in modern computing, its hardware requirements, and the software ecosystem that supports it.
• Lecture 4: Memory vs. Storage: Understanding the Divide
  Delve into the technical differences between memory and storage, and how PMEM blurs these lines to offer the best of both worlds.
• Lecture 5: Core Characteristics of Persistent Memory
  Learn about the unique features of PMEM, such as low latency, high endurance, and data persistence, which make it ideal for specific applications.
• Lecture 6: Hardware Platforms That Support PMEM
  Identify the hardware that enables PMEM, including supported devices and system configurations.
• Lecture 7: OS-Level Support for Memory and Storage
  Discover how operating systems interact with PMEM, including support mechanisms and performance optimizations.
• Lecture 8: PMEM as Block Storage: A New Perspective
  Understand how PMEM can be utilized as block storage, and its impact on data performance and reliability.

Section 2: Mastering PMEM Development Kit

Section Overview:
This section transitions from theory to hands-on practice, introducing you to the PMEM Development Kit and guiding you through advanced development concepts.

• Lecture 9: The Basics of Atomic Updates
  Learn how atomic updates work in PMEM and their importance for data consistency.
• Lecture 10: Transactions in Persistent Memory
  Explore transaction management techniques in PMEM to ensure data integrity during failures.
• Lecture 11: Volatile Libraries: What They Are and Why They Matter
  Understand volatile libraries and their role in PMEM applications.
• Lecture 12: Persistent Libraries for Robust Applications
  Dive into the structure and use of persistent libraries to build reliable PMEM-based systems.
• Lecture 13: Practical Use of Persistent Libraries
  Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios by working with persistent libraries.
• Lecture 14: Mapping Files to Persistent Memory
  Learn how to efficiently map files to PMEM for optimal performance.
• Lecture 15: Copying Data to Persistent Memory
  Master techniques for safely copying data into PMEM with minimal performance overhead.
• Lecture 16: The Art of Flushing: Separating Steps for Efficiency
  Understand the flushing mechanism in PMEM and how to optimize it for better data reliability.

Section 3: Advanced PMEM Programming with libpmemobj, libpmemobj-cpp, and pmemkv

Section Overview:
In this advanced section, we’ll dive into specialized libraries and frameworks for PMEM development, focusing on practical applications and performance optimization.

• Lecture 17: Demystifying libpmemobj
  Get to know libpmemobj, a core library for managing persistent objects in memory.
• Lecture 18: Memory Pools Explained
  Understand memory pools and their critical role in efficient PMEM resource management.
• Lecture 19: Scaling with Memory Poolsets
  Explore how memory poolsets allow for scalable and flexible PMEM applications.
• Lecture 20: Leveraging Metaprogramming in PMEM
  Discover how metaprogramming techniques can enhance PMEM application performance.
• Lecture 21: Navigating C++ Standard Limitations with PMEM
  Learn to overcome C++ standard limitations when working with PMEM.
• Lecture 22: Inside PMEMKV Architecture
  Delve into the architecture of pmemkv, a key-value store optimized for persistent memory.
• Lecture 23: Building a Phonebook App with PMEMKV
  Apply your knowledge to create a practical phonebook application using pmemkv.
• Lecture 24: The Future of PMEM in the Cloud
  Explore the exciting potential of PMEM in cloud computing environments and how it’s shaping the future.
• Lecture 25: Wrapping Up: Course Conclusion and Key Takeaways
  Reflect on what you’ve learned, review key concepts, and discover how to continue your PMEM journey beyond this course.