Abstract: A real-time distributed processing environment for supporting the execution of interacting activities in different processors, comprising a network of message-passing elements for transferring data between memory areas of the processors; and route-table means associated with each message-passing element within the distributed processing environment, the route-table means comprising programmable variables for a set of software-routes that are to be supported by the associated message-passing device, wherein software-route data associated with a software activity producing data and a software activity using the data may be transferred between memory devices concurrently with execution of activities by the processors. The environment allows the processors to commence or continue execution of any activity simultaneously with the movement of software-route data between the memory spaces of the processors without any involvement from software.