diff --git a/examples/sort/Makefile b/examples/sort/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ead0854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sort/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+
+EXAMPLE=sort
+CPP_SRC=sort.cpp sort_serial.cpp
+ISPC_SRC=sort.ispc
+ISPC_TARGETS=sse2,sse4-x2,avx
+#ISPC_FLAGS=-DDEBUG
+
+include ../common.mk
diff --git a/examples/sort/sort.cpp b/examples/sort/sort.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..083bafa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sort/sort.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+/*
+  Copyright (c) 2013, Durham University
+  All rights reserved.
+
+  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+  met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+      documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of Durham University nor the names of its
+      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+      this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+
+   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
+   IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+   TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+   PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER
+   OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+   EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+   PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+   PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+   LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+   NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+   SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.  
+*/
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include "../timing.h"
+#include "sort_ispc.h"
+
+using namespace ispc;
+
+extern void sort_serial (int n, unsigned int code[], int order[]);
+
+/* progress bar by Ross Hemsley;
+ * http://www.rosshemsley.co.uk/2011/02/creating-a-progress-bar-in-c-or-any-other-console-app/ */
+static inline void progressbar (unsigned int x, unsigned int n, unsigned int w = 50)
+{
+  if (n < 100)
+  {
+    x *= 100/n;
+    n = 100;
+  }
+
+  if ((x != n) && (x % (n/100) != 0)) return;
+
+  using namespace std;
+       
+  float ratio  =  x/(float)n;
+  int c =  ratio * w;
+	        
+  cout << setw(3) << (int)(ratio*100) << "% [";
+  for (int x=0; x<c; x++) cout << "=";
+  for (int x=c; x<w; x++) cout << " ";
+  cout << "]\r" << flush;
+}
+
+int main (int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+  int i, j, n = argc == 1 ? 1000000 : atoi(argv[1]), m = n < 100 ? 1 : 50, l = n < 100 ? n : RAND_MAX;
+  double tISPC1 = 0.0, tISPC2 = 0.0, tSerial = 0.0;
+  unsigned int *code = new unsigned int [n];
+  int *order = new int [n];
+
+  for (i = 0; i < m; i ++)
+  {
+    srand (0);
+
+    for (j = 0; j < n; j ++) code [j] = random() % l;
+
+    reset_and_start_timer();
+
+    sort_ispc (n, code, order, 1);
+
+    tISPC1 += get_elapsed_mcycles();
+
+    progressbar (i, m);
+  }
+              
+
+  printf("[sort ispc]:\t[%.3f] million cycles\n", tISPC1);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < m; i ++)
+  {
+    srand (0);
+
+    for (j = 0; j < n; j ++) code [j] = random() % l;
+
+    reset_and_start_timer();
+
+    sort_ispc (n, code, order, 0);
+
+    tISPC2 += get_elapsed_mcycles();
+
+    progressbar (i, m);
+  }
+              
+  printf("[sort ispc+tasks]:\t[%.3f] million cycles\n", tISPC2);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < m; i ++)
+  {
+    srand (0);
+
+    for (j = 0; j < n; j ++) code [j] = random() % l;
+
+    reset_and_start_timer();
+
+    sort_serial (n, code, order);
+
+    tSerial += get_elapsed_mcycles();
+
+    progressbar (i, m);
+  }
+
+  printf("[sort serial]:\t\t[%.3f] million cycles\n", tSerial);
+
+  printf("\t\t\t\t(%.2fx speedup from ISPC serial)\n", tSerial/tISPC1);
+  printf("\t\t\t\t(%.2fx speedup from ISPC with tasks)\n", tSerial/tISPC2);
+
+  delete code;
+  delete order;
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/examples/sort/sort.ispc b/examples/sort/sort.ispc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..454f18a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sort/sort.ispc
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+/*
+  Copyright (c) 2013, Durham University
+  All rights reserved.
+
+  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+  met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+      documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of Durham University nor the names of its
+      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+      this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+
+   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
+   IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+   TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+   PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER
+   OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+   EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+   PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+   PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+   LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+   NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+   SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.  
+*/
+
+task void histogram (uniform int span, uniform int n, uniform int64 code[], uniform int pass, uniform int hist[])
+{
+  uniform int start = taskIndex*span;
+  uniform int end = taskIndex == taskCount-1 ? n : start+span;
+  uniform int strip = (end-start)/programCount;
+  uniform int tail = (end-start)%programCount;
+  int i = programCount*taskIndex + programIndex;
+  int g [256];
+
+  cfor (int j = 0; j < 256; j ++)
+  {
+    g[j] = 0;
+  }
+
+  cfor (int k = start+programIndex*strip; k < start+(programIndex+1)*strip; k ++)
+  {
+    unsigned int8 *c = (unsigned int8*) &code[k];
+
+    g[c[pass]] ++;
+  }
+
+  if (programIndex == programCount-1) /* remainder is processed by the last lane */
+  {
+    for (int k = start+programCount*strip; k < start+programCount*strip+tail; k ++)
+    {
+      unsigned int8 *c = (unsigned int8*) &code[k];
+
+      g[c[pass]] ++;
+    }
+  }
+
+  cfor (int j = 0; j < 256; j ++)
+  {
+    hist[j*programCount*taskCount+i] = g[j];
+  }
+}
+
+task void permutation (uniform int span, uniform int n, uniform int64 code[], uniform int pass, uniform int hist[], uniform int64 perm[])
+{
+  uniform int start = taskIndex*span;
+  uniform int end = taskIndex == taskCount-1 ? n : start+span;
+  uniform int strip = (end-start)/programCount;
+  uniform int tail = (end-start)%programCount;
+  int i = programCount*taskIndex + programIndex;
+  int g [256];
+
+  cfor (int j = 0; j < 256; j ++)
+  {
+    g[j] = hist[j*programCount*taskCount+i];
+  }
+
+  cfor (int k = start+programIndex*strip; k < start+(programIndex+1)*strip; k ++)
+  {
+    unsigned int8 *c = (unsigned int8*) &code[k];
+
+    int l = g[c[pass]];
+
+    perm[l] = code[k];
+
+    g[c[pass]] = l+1;
+  }
+
+  if (programIndex == programCount-1) /* remainder is processed by the last lane */
+  {
+    for (int k = start+programCount*strip; k < start+programCount*strip+tail; k ++)
+    {
+      unsigned int8 *c = (unsigned int8*) &code[k];
+
+      int l = g[c[pass]];
+
+      perm[l] = code[k];
+
+      g[c[pass]] = l+1;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+task void copy (uniform int span, uniform int n, uniform int64 from[], uniform int64 to[])
+{
+  uniform int start = taskIndex*span;
+  uniform int end = taskIndex == taskCount-1 ? n : start+span;
+
+  foreach (i = start ... end)
+  {
+    to[i] = from[i];
+  }
+}
+
+task void pack (uniform int span, uniform int n, uniform unsigned int code[], uniform int64 pair[])
+{
+  uniform int start = taskIndex*span;
+  uniform int end = taskIndex == taskCount-1 ? n : start+span;
+
+  foreach (i = start ... end)
+  {
+    pair[i] = ((int64)i<<32)+code[i];
+  }
+}
+
+task void unpack (uniform int span, uniform int n, uniform int64 pair[], uniform int unsigned code[], uniform int order[])
+{
+  uniform int start = taskIndex*span;
+  uniform int end = taskIndex == taskCount-1 ? n : start+span;
+
+  foreach (i = start ... end)
+  {
+    code[i] = pair[i];
+    order[i] = pair[i]>>32;
+  }
+}
+
+export void sort_ispc (uniform int n, uniform unsigned int code[], uniform int order[], uniform int ntasks)
+{
+  uniform int num = ntasks < 1 ? num_cores () : ntasks;
+  uniform int span = n / num;
+  uniform int hsize = 256*programCount*num;
+  uniform int * uniform hist = uniform new int [hsize+1];
+  uniform int64 * uniform pair = uniform new int64 [n];
+  uniform int64 * uniform temp = uniform new int64 [n];
+  uniform int pass, i;
+
+#if DEBUG
+  if (n < 100)
+  {
+    print ("input: ");
+    for (i = 0; i < n; i ++) print ("%, ", code[i]);
+    print ("\n");
+  }
+#endif
+
+  launch[num] pack (span, n, code, pair);
+  sync;
+
+  for (pass = 0; pass < 4; pass ++)
+  {
+    launch[num] histogram (span, n, pair, pass, hist+1);
+    sync;
+
+    /* TODO: parallelize and vectorize prefix sum */
+    for (hist[0] = 0, i = 1; i < hsize; i ++) hist[i] += hist[i-1];
+
+    launch[num] permutation (span, n, pair, pass, hist, temp);
+    sync;
+
+    launch[num] copy (span, n, temp, pair);
+    sync;
+  }
+
+  launch[num] unpack (span, n, pair, code, order);
+  sync;
+
+#if DEBUG
+  for (i = 0; i < n; i ++)
+  {
+    if (i > 0 && code[i-1] > code[i])
+      print ("ERR at % => % > %; ", i, code[i-1], code[i]);
+  }
+
+  if (n < 100)
+  {
+    print ("output: ");
+    for (i = 0; i < n; i ++) print ("%, ", code[i]);
+    print ("\n");
+    print ("order: ");
+    for (i = 0; i < n; i ++) print ("%, ", order[i]);
+    print ("\n");
+  }
+#endif
+
+  delete hist;
+  delete pair;
+  delete temp;
+}
diff --git a/examples/sort/sort_serial.cpp b/examples/sort/sort_serial.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46fffccd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sort/sort_serial.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*
+  Copyright (c) 2013, Durham University
+  All rights reserved.
+
+  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+  met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+      documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of Durham University nor the names of its
+      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+      this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+
+   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
+   IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+   TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+   PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER
+   OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+   EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+   PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+   PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+   LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+   NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+   SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.  
+*/
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <utility>
+
+typedef std::pair<double,int> pair;
+
+struct cmp
+{
+  bool operator() (const pair& a, const pair& b) { return a.first < b.first; }
+};
+
+void sort_serial (int n, unsigned int code[], int order[])
+{
+  std::vector<pair> pairs;
+
+  pairs.reserve (n);
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) pairs.push_back (pair(code[i], i));
+
+  std::sort (pairs.begin(), pairs.end(), cmp());
+
+  int *o = order;
+
+  for (std::vector<pair>::const_iterator p = pairs.begin(); p != pairs.end(); ++p, ++o) *o = p->second;
+}