This cluster seeks to advance the science, formalisms, and methodologies for building computing and communication systems. Research and education projects in software engineering, programming language design and implementation, graphics and visualization systems, computer architecture, and design automation are supported.

Topical areas include: software design methodologies; tools for software testing, analysis, and verification; semantics, design, and implementation of programming languages; micro-architectures; memory and I/O subsystems; application-specific architectures; performance metrics; VLSI electronic design; analysis, synthesis and simulation algorithms; system-on-a-chip; architecture and design for mixed or future media (e.g., nanotechnology).