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IPC in computing has two primary meanings: Inter-Process Communication, which is the exchange of data between programs, and Instructions Per Cycle, which measures a processor's performance. Inter-Process Communication allows processes to cooperate and share data, using methods like shared memory or message passing. Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) is a metric for a processor's speed, calculated by multiplying its clock rate by the number of instructions it can execute per cycle.

Inter-Process Communication (IPC)

What it is: A set of methods that allows different programs (processes) to communicate and exchange data, either on the same computer or over a network.

How it works: Processes often act as clients and servers, with the client requesting data and the server responding. This allows for cooperation, concurrency, and modularity in applications.

Key mechanisms:

Message Passing: Processes send messages to each other, often through queues.

Shared Memory: Processes share a segment of memory for fast data exchange, but require synchronization to prevent conflicts.

Other methods: Includes mechanisms like Clipboard, File Mapping, Mailslots, and Remote Procedure Calls (RPC).

Instructions Per Cycle (IPC)

What it is: A measure of how many instructions a CPU can execute per clock cycle, indicating its efficiency and performance.

How it's calculated: IPC = Instructions Per Cycle

Performance indicator: A higher IPC generally means better performance, as the processor can do more work in the same amount of time.

Factors that influence IPC: Processor features like multiple arithmetic logic units (ALUs) and short pipelines can increase IPC. The complexity of the instruction set can be a factor; a simpler instruction set might have a higher IPC, but a more complex one may achieve more with fewer instructions.