Huh ? Java is multithreaded now and there is a one to one map of Java threads onto native OS threads on common os (win, linux, solaris). It very possible to write Java code that will fully utilize all cores. The same can be done with C++. This stuff is not new and has been going on for years. If PC software vendors are not delivering the goods, then take aim at them because the major development environments all support genuine multithreading. The issue (as always) is how amenable the application is to being parallelized.
Fully agree. It's pretty trivial to implement parallelization these days. A lot of software shops don't have the kind of expertise to transform their product, or they just don't want to deal with the added complexity, though there's no excuse not to at least parallelize with OpenMP where appropriate.
Multithreading != ParallelProcessing Let's poll all of the great platforms and vendors and see how many have done it, shall we ? 1) Thinkorswim's great Java platform: NOPE (they can't even run JVM 6 yet !) 2) Interactive Broker's Java platform: NOPE (they can barely keep it running period) 3) Ninja Trader's Dot-Net platform: NOPE 4) Genesis Tech's C++ Laser: NOPE 5) Sterling Trader Pro's C++ platform: NOPE Wonder why ? HINT: It ain't easy.
Think about it. If there was a business reason to dedicate limited development resources to make their respective tools distribute processing load amongst multiple cores we'd see that capability within 6 months. It's actually not hard, it will require development resources however. The fact of the matter is this crowd is all about developing features that will sell the product. My opinion is that we're approaching a point in time when John Q trader might at least understand what "multi-core" support means to him. Or in other words will I as a trading software vendor get more return on my development investment by implementing features that traders really need right now - or - by desiging in technically nifty "multi-core" support. It ain't muti-core support (yet).
What's really interesting is how the chip vendors love to hype these new processors....naturally, to make "the sale". JQ Public then blows his bucks on something he doesn't need and can't really use to it's fullest potential. Only in America !