diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/in.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/in.h
index ec3d476..8e39a79 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/in.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/in.h
@@ -74,12 +74,21 @@ class In {
   void SetConnected() { connected_ = true; }
 
   void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        values_[ii].~SignalType();
+      }
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(values_);
+      values_ = NULL;
+    }
     slices_ = slices;
-    values_ = reinterpret_cast<SignalType*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-      sizeof(SignalType)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      new (&values_[ii]) SignalType();
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      values_ = reinterpret_cast<SignalType*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(SignalType)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        new (&values_[ii]) SignalType();
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/inputs.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/inputs.h
index 81282dd..207e2a3 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/inputs.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/inputs.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class Inputs<embb::base::internal::Nil, embb::base::internal::Nil,
   bool IsFullyConnected() {
     return true;
   }
+  void SetSlices(int /*slices*/) {}
 };
 
 template <typename T1>
@@ -69,12 +70,22 @@ class Inputs<T1, embb::base::internal::Nil, embb::base::internal::Nil,
     embb::base::internal::Nil>
   , public ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Inputs(int slices) : count_(NULL), slices_(slices) {
-    count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      count_[ii] = 1;
+  explicit Inputs() : count_(NULL), slices_(0) {
+    // empty
+  }
+  void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(count_);
+      count_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        count_[ii] = 1;
+      }
     }
     this->template Get<0>().SetSlices(slices_);
   }
@@ -122,12 +133,22 @@ class Inputs<T1, T2, embb::base::internal::Nil,
     embb::base::internal::Nil, embb::base::internal::Nil>
   , public ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Inputs(int slices) : count_(NULL), slices_(slices) {
-    count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      count_[ii] = 2;
+  explicit Inputs() : count_(NULL), slices_(0) {
+    // empty
+  }
+  void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(count_);
+      count_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        count_[ii] = 2;
+      }
     }
     this->template Get<0>().SetSlices(slices_);
     this->template Get<1>().SetSlices(slices_);
@@ -181,12 +202,22 @@ class Inputs<T1, T2, T3, embb::base::internal::Nil,
     embb::base::internal::Nil, embb::base::internal::Nil>
   , public ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Inputs(int slices) : count_(NULL), slices_(slices) {
-    count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      count_[ii] = 3;
+  explicit Inputs() : count_(NULL), slices_(0) {
+    // empty
+  }
+  void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(count_);
+      count_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        count_[ii] = 3;
+      }
     }
     this->template Get<0>().SetSlices(slices_);
     this->template Get<1>().SetSlices(slices_);
@@ -245,12 +276,22 @@ class Inputs<T1, T2, T3, T4, embb::base::internal::Nil>
       In<T4>, embb::base::internal::Nil>
   , public ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Inputs(int slices) : count_(NULL), slices_(slices) {
-    count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      count_[ii] = 4;
+  explicit Inputs() : count_(NULL), slices_(0) {
+    // empty
+  }
+  void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(count_);
+      count_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        count_[ii] = 4;
+      }
     }
     this->template Get<0>().SetSlices(slices_);
     this->template Get<1>().SetSlices(slices_);
@@ -316,12 +357,22 @@ class Inputs
       In<T4>, In<T5> >
   , public ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Inputs(int slices) : count_(NULL), slices_(slices) {
-    count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      count_[ii] = 5;
+  explicit Inputs() : count_(NULL), slices_(0) {
+    // empty
+  }
+  void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(count_);
+      count_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      count_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        count_[ii] = 5;
+      }
     }
     this->template Get<0>().SetSlices(slices_);
     this->template Get<1>().SetSlices(slices_);
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/node.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/node.h
index 57a8a94..8aa2805 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/node.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/node.h
@@ -49,13 +49,21 @@ class Node {
     EMBB_THROW(embb::base::ErrorException,
       "Nodes are started implicitly.");
   }
+  void SetScheduler(Scheduler * sched) {
+    sched_ = sched;
+    if (NULL != sched_) {
+      SetSlices(sched_->GetSlices());
+    } else {
+      SetSlices(0);
+    }
+  }
 
  protected:
   Scheduler * sched_;
   static int next_process_id_;
 
-  void SetScheduler(Scheduler * sched) { sched_ = sched; }
   static int GetNextProcessID() { return next_process_id_++; }
+  virtual void SetSlices(int /*slices*/) {};
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
index 584c948..b728d81 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ class Process< Serial, Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
   typedef ProcessExecutor< InputsType, OutputsType > ExecutorType;
   typedef typename ExecutorType::FunctionType FunctionType;
 
-  Process(int slices, Scheduler * sched, FunctionType function)
-    : inputs_(slices)
+  Process(Scheduler * sched, FunctionType function)
+    : inputs_()
     , executor_(function)
     , action_(NULL)
-    , slices_(slices) {
+    , slices_(0) {
     next_clock_ = 0;
     queued_clock_ = 0;
     bool ordered = Serial;
@@ -67,12 +67,6 @@ class Process< Serial, Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
       queue_id_ = 0;
     }
     inputs_.SetListener(this);
-    action_ = reinterpret_cast<Action*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(Action)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      action_[ii] = Action();
-    }
     SetScheduler(sched);
   }
 
@@ -173,6 +167,23 @@ class Process< Serial, Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
   embb::base::Atomic<int> queued_clock_;
   int queue_id_;
   int slices_;
+
+  virtual void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(action_);
+      action_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    inputs_.SetSlices(slices);
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      action_ = reinterpret_cast<Action*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(Action)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        action_[ii] = Action();
+      }
+    }
+  }
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
index c90758f..40d6b6f 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Select
   typedef Inputs<bool, Type, Type> InputsType;
   typedef Outputs<Type> OutputsType;
 
-  Select(int slices, Scheduler * sched) : inputs_(slices), slices_(slices) {
+  Select(Scheduler * sched) : inputs_(), slices_(0) {
     inputs_.SetListener(this);
     SetScheduler(sched);
   }
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ class Select
   InputsType inputs_;
   OutputsType outputs_;
   int slices_;
+
+  virtual void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    slices_ = slices;
+    inputs_.SetSlices(slices);
+  }
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/sink.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/sink.h
index 1f59464..e690a99 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/sink.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/sink.h
@@ -48,23 +48,17 @@ class Sink< Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5> >
   typedef SinkExecutor< InputsType > ExecutorType;
   typedef typename ExecutorType::FunctionType FunctionType;
 
-  Sink(int slices, Scheduler * sched, ClockListener * listener,
+  Sink(Scheduler * sched, ClockListener * listener,
     FunctionType function)
-    : inputs_(slices)
+    : inputs_()
     , executor_(function)
     , action_(NULL)
-    , slices_(slices) {
+    , slices_(0) {
     next_clock_ = 0;
     queued_clock_ = 0;
     queue_id_ = GetNextProcessID();
     inputs_.SetListener(this);
-    action_ = reinterpret_cast<Action*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(Action)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      action_[ii] = Action();
-    }
-    SetListener(listener);
+    listener_ = listener;
     SetScheduler(sched);
   }
 
@@ -74,10 +68,6 @@ class Sink< Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5> >
     }
   }
 
-  void SetListener(ClockListener * listener) {
-    listener_ = listener;
-  }
-
   virtual bool HasInputs() const {
     return inputs_.Size() > 0;
   }
@@ -143,6 +133,23 @@ class Sink< Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5> >
   embb::base::Atomic<int> queued_clock_;
   int queue_id_;
   int slices_;
+
+  virtual void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      embb::base::Allocation::Free(action_);
+      action_ = NULL;
+    }
+    slices_ = slices;
+    inputs_.SetSlices(slices);
+    if (0 < slices_) {
+      action_ = reinterpret_cast<Action*>(
+        embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+          sizeof(Action)*slices_));
+      for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+        action_[ii] = Action();
+      }
+    }
+  }
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
index db02058..788685b 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Switch
   typedef Inputs<bool, Type> InputsType;
   typedef Outputs<Type, Type> OutputsType;
 
-  Switch(int slices, Scheduler * sched) : inputs_(slices) {
+  Switch(Scheduler * sched) : inputs_() {
     inputs_.SetListener(this);
     SetScheduler(sched);
   }
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@ class Switch
  private:
   InputsType inputs_;
   OutputsType outputs_;
+
+  virtual void SetSlices(int slices) {
+    inputs_.SetSlices(slices);
+  }
 };
 
 } // namespace internal
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
index 53b17e0..4e77782 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ class Network {
  public:
   /**
    * Constructs an empty network.
+   * \note The number of concurrent tokens will be derived from the structure
+   * of the network automatically on the first call to operator () and the
+   * corresponding resources will be allocated then.
+   */
+  Network() {}
+
+  /**
+   * Constructs an empty network.
    * \param slices Number of concurrent tokens allowed in the network.
    */
   explicit Network(int slices) {}
@@ -673,6 +681,10 @@ class Network {
 
   /**
    * Executes the network until one of the the sources returns \c false.
+   * \note If the network was default constructed the number of concurrent
+   * tokens will be derived from the structure of the network automatically
+   * on the first call of the operator and the corresponding resources will
+   * be allocated then.
    */
   void operator () ();
 };
@@ -681,22 +693,14 @@ class Network {
 
 class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
  public:
-  explicit Network(int slices = 0)
-    : sink_counter_(NULL), slices_(slices), sched_(NULL) {
-    if (0 >= slices) {
-      slices_ = int(embb_core_count_available())*4;
-    }
-    sched_ = embb::base::Allocation::New<internal::SchedulerMTAPI>(slices_);
-    if (sched_->GetSlices() != slices_) {
-      slices_ = sched_->GetSlices();
-    }
-    sink_counter_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
-      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
-        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
-    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
-      sink_counter_[ii] = 0;
-    }
-    sink_count_ = 0;
+  Network()
+    : sink_counter_(NULL), sink_count_(0), slices_(0), sched_(NULL) {
+    // empty
+  }
+
+  explicit Network(int slices)
+    : sink_counter_(NULL), sink_count_(0), slices_(slices), sched_(NULL) {
+    PrepareSlices();
   }
 
   ~Network() {
@@ -710,24 +714,22 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
     }
   }
 
-  template <typename T1, typename T2 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
+  template <typename T1,
+    typename T2 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T3 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T4 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T5 = embb::base::internal::Nil>
-  class Inputs : public internal::Inputs<T1, T2, T3, T4, T5> {
-   public:
-    explicit Inputs(int slices)
-      : internal::Inputs<T1, T2, T3, T4, T5>(slices) {}
+  class Inputs {
+    // empty
   };
 
-  template <typename T1, typename T2 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
+  template <typename T1,
+    typename T2 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T3 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T4 = embb::base::internal::Nil,
     typename T5 = embb::base::internal::Nil>
-  class Outputs : public internal::Outputs<T1, T2, T3, T4, T5> {
-   public:
-    Outputs()
-      : internal::Outputs<T1, T2, T3, T4, T5>() {}
+  class Outputs {
+    // empty
   };
 
   template <class Inputs, class Outputs> class SerialProcess;
@@ -749,7 +751,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
       : internal::Process< true,
           internal::Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
           internal::Outputs<O1, O2, O3, O4, O5> >(
-            network.slices_, network.sched_, function) {
+            network.sched_, function) {
       network.processes_.push_back(this);
     }
   };
@@ -773,7 +775,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
       : internal::Process< false,
           internal::Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
           internal::Outputs<O1, O2, O3, O4, O5> >(
-            network.slices_, network.sched_, function) {
+            network.sched_, function) {
       network.processes_.push_back(this);
     }
   };
@@ -782,7 +784,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
   class Switch : public internal::Switch<Type> {
    public:
     explicit Switch(Network & network)
-      : internal::Switch<Type>(network.slices_, network.sched_) {
+      : internal::Switch<Type>(network.sched_) {
       network.processes_.push_back(this);
     }
   };
@@ -791,7 +793,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
   class Select : public internal::Select<Type> {
    public:
     explicit Select(Network & network)
-      : internal::Select<Type>(network.slices_, network.sched_) {
+      : internal::Select<Type>(network.sched_) {
       network.processes_.push_back(this);
     }
   };
@@ -809,7 +811,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
     explicit Sink(Network & network, FunctionType function)
       : internal::Sink<
           internal::Inputs<I1, I2, I3, I4, I5> >(
-            network.slices_, network.sched_, &network, function) {
+            network.sched_, &network, function) {
       network.sinks_.push_back(this);
       network.sink_count_++;
     }
@@ -857,6 +859,27 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
   }
 
   void operator () () {
+    if (0 >= slices_) {
+      slices_ = static_cast<int>(
+        sources_.size() +
+        sinks_.size());
+      for (size_t ii = 0; ii < processes_.size(); ii++) {
+        int tt = processes_[ii]->IsSequential() ? 1 :
+          static_cast<int>(embb_core_count_available());
+        slices_ += tt;
+      }
+      PrepareSlices();
+      for (size_t ii = 0; ii < sources_.size(); ii++) {
+        sources_[ii]->SetScheduler(sched_);
+      }
+      for (size_t ii = 0; ii < processes_.size(); ii++) {
+        processes_[ii]->SetScheduler(sched_);
+      }
+      for (size_t ii = 0; ii < sinks_.size(); ii++) {
+        sinks_[ii]->SetScheduler(sched_);
+      }
+    }
+
     int clock = 0;
     while (clock >= 0) {
       const int idx = clock % slices_;
@@ -913,6 +936,19 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
     }
     return result;
   }
+
+  void PrepareSlices() {
+    sched_ = embb::base::Allocation::New<internal::SchedulerMTAPI>(slices_);
+    if (sched_->GetSlices() != slices_) {
+      slices_ = sched_->GetSlices();
+    }
+    sink_counter_ = reinterpret_cast<embb::base::Atomic<int>*>(
+      embb::base::Allocation::Allocate(
+        sizeof(embb::base::Atomic<int>)*slices_));
+    for (int ii = 0; ii < slices_; ii++) {
+      sink_counter_[ii] = 0;
+    }
+  }
 };
 
 #endif // DOXYGEN