Methods and apparatus for memory management are described. In one example, this disclosure describes a method that includes executing, by a first processing unit, first work unit operations specified by a first work unit message, wherein execution of the first work unit operations includes accessing data from shared memory included within the computing system, modifying the data, and storing the modified data in a first cache associated with the first processing unit; identifying, by the computing system, a second work unit message that specifies second work unit operations that access the shared memory; updating, by the computing system, the shared memory by storing the modified data in the shared memory; receiving, by the computing system, an indication that updating the shared memory with the modified data is complete; and enabling the second processing unit to execute the second work unit operations.