title: struct serialization in C and transfer over MPI
body: <p>I have defined a custom <code>struct</code> which I need to send over to another
  MPI process using the <code>MPI_Bsend</code> (or <code>MPI_Send</code>).</p>
  
  <p>Here is the struct: </p>
  
  <pre><code>struct car{
    int shifts;
    int topSpeed;
  }myCar;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The issue is that apart from primitive types MPI doesn't seem to support direct "transmission" of complex data types like the struct shown above. I've heard that I might have to use "serialization".</p>
  
  <p>How should I approach this and successfully send over <code>myCar</code> to process 5?</p>