1. For a distributed processing system including a plurality of distributed data processing elements, each of which having a local operating system for controlling operations therein and each having an associated storage means for storing at least one control block for defining functions to be performed by a data processing element in accordance with its local operating system, said plurality of data processing elements being interconnected by a data bus and a control bus, a method for compiling a master task definition data set for defining a logical data flow of said distributed processing system for accomplishing a specific complex function, comprising the steps of: inputting a user defined task description in a form of a high level language instruction which specifies what the task does, which other tasks a given task is associated with, and on what data processing element the given task is executed; providing control blocks of three different types, a first type for controlling execution of tasks within said data processing element, a second type controlling transfer of data between tasks, and a third type controlling interdependent tasks by sending control tokens between tasks; assembling addresses and routing information in control blocks to enable interconnection of tasks, as specified in a master task definitional data set; assembling user defined parameters in a master task definition data set, into respective control blocks; assembling a dependency mask in respective control blocks defining the tokens necessary to authorize execution of a task; outputting a bit map representation of a plurality of control blocks, to enable said distributed processing system to carry out said specific complex function.