A method for multi-platform parallel or real-time machine programming is provided. The method comprises specifying a parallel machine definition code defining a plurality of signal or data processing components and a communication of data or signals between the components, automatically converting the code into computer instructions for execution on an essentially sequential, non-parallel computer processor, a parallel execution of the instructions on the sequential processor and automatically converting the code into hardware programming data for providing parallel hardware operation according to the code, by including, in the hardware programming data, event control circuitry specification, priority control circuitry specification and buffering control circuitry specification to ensure that the hardware operation matches the execution on the sequential computer processor. The parallel machine code is implemented using the hardware programming data on a parallel hardware machine having parallel processing capability and using the computer instructions on the sequential processor in a manner that is essentially exchangeable.