# Initialization Routines

This topic describes BLACS routines that deal with grid/context creation, and processing before the grid/context has been defined.

BLACS Intialization Routines
Routine name | Operation performed
--- | ---
blacs_pinfo | Returns the number of processes available for use.
blacs_setup | Allocates virtual machine and spawns processes.
blacs_get | Gets values that BLACS use for internal defaults.
blacs_set | Sets values that BLACS use for internal defaults.
blacs_gridinit | Assigns available processes into BLACS process grid.
blacs_gridmap | Maps available processes into BLACS process grid.