Abstract: The research and application of high productivity computing system is key field of large-scale computer system. Facing various application fields, how to design high productivity computing system, how to use large-scale computer system high efficiently and how to make large-scale computer system meet the need of the various applications, all have become the most interest topic in the HPC (high performance computing). Recent years witness the rapid progress and ambitious research plans in the field of HPCS (high productivity computing system). Focusing on the demands of large-scale parallel applications, the big challenges are analyzed and the main efforts and plans are surveyed in this paper. The latest progresses in computer architecture, programming environment, system management and reliability design are further discussed surrounding this topic. Finally, the future development of application-driven high productivity computing systems is outlined.