A graph-based program specification includes components corresponding to tasks and directed links between ports of the components, including: a first type of link configuration between ports of linked components, corresponding to transfer of control or transfer of a single data element, and a second type of link configuration between ports of linked components, corresponding to transfer of multiple data elements. A compiler generates a target program specification including control code representing at least one control graph including graph nodes representing the components, where at least two are connected based on links of the first type. A computing node initiates execution of the target program specification, and manages computing resources for links of the second type, the computing resources including at least one of: (1) a buffer for storing data elements provided by an output port, or (2) a buffer for storing data elements provided to an input port.