A distributed data‐acquisition system that used various computer hardware and software is being developed to support magnetic fusion experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The experimental sequence of operations is controlled by a supervisory program, which coordinates software running on Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX computers, Hewlett–Packard (HP) UNIX‐based workstations, and HPbasicdesktop computers. An interprocess communication system (IPCS) allows programs to communicate with one another in a standard manner regardless of program location in the network or of operating system and hardware differences. We discuss the design and implementation of this data‐acquisition system with particular emphasis on the coordination model and the IPCS.