The Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) abstract computer is a bridging model for designing parallel algorithms. A bridging model "is intended neither as a hardware nor a programming model but something in between". It serves a purpose similar to the Parallel Random Access Machine (PRAM) model. BSP differs from PRAM by not taking communication and synchronization for granted. An important part of analysing a BSP algorithm rests on quantifying the synchronisation and communication needed.
BSP was developed by Leslie Valiant during the 1980s. The definitive article was published in 1990.
Read more about Bulk Synchronous Parallel: The Model, Communication, Barriers, The Cost of A BSP Algorithm, Extensions and Uses
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