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Is it time For open processors? Jonathan Corbet over at lwn.net seems to think so. He lists several ongoing initiatives such as OpenPOWER, OpenSPARC and OpenRISC, but feels that most of the momentum is in the RISC-V architecture right now.
Given the complexity of modern CPUs and the fierceness of the market in which they are sold, it might be surprising to think that they could be developed in an open manner. But there are serious initiatives working in this area; the idea of an open CPU design is not pure fantasy.
[...] Much of the momentum these days, instead, appears to be associated with the RISC-V architecture. This project is primarily focused on the instruction-set architecture (ISA), rather than on specific implementations, but free hardware designs do exist. Western Digital recently announced that it will be using RISC-V processors in its storage products, a decision that could lead to the shipment of RISC-V by the billion. There is a development kit available for those who would like to play with this processor and a number of designs for cores are available.
Unlike OpenRISC, RISC-V is intended to be applicable to a wide range of use cases. The simple RISC architecture should be relatively easy to make fast, it is hoped. Meanwhile, for low-end applications, there is a compressed instruction-stream format intended to reduce both memory and energy needs. The ISA is designed with the ability for specific implementations to add extensions, making experimentation easier and facilitating the addition of hardware acceleration techniques.
[...] RISC-V seems to have quite a bit of commercial support behind it — the RISC-V Foundation has a long list of members. It seems likely that this architecture will continue to progress for some time.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Thexalon on Tuesday January 23 2018, @10:54PM (11 children)
Open standards benefit everybody who is not able to set the de facto standard.
That's true when you're talking about hardware, software, or swimwear.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday January 23 2018, @11:23PM (2 children)
Well we have open Software.
The Risk guys are al gaga about open processors.
But then there is everything else in the computer, the bus, the bridge, the power, the various ports and the video standard.
Anyone who wants to go the open hardware route has a huge mountain to climb.
We've got the paint and we've got the engines, but nobody has a transmission, body, drive system, or even a steering wheel.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday January 23 2018, @11:35PM
Oh, no! Froj! Not the car analogy!
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday January 24 2018, @04:12PM
The only way to get something started is by doing it. Sure, there may be a huge uphill battle, but open hardware could be worth the effort.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday January 23 2018, @11:40PM (7 children)
Open swimwear - there was a time I could be interested or at least intrigued.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday January 23 2018, @11:52PM
A time before you switched to Unix?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday January 24 2018, @01:32AM (3 children)
Surely you want the WindowsSwimwear: frequently stops...working?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 24 2018, @04:45AM (1 child)
Swimming pants on fire? The last thing I want, fer sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday January 24 2018, @05:05AM
That is reserved for liar, liars.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Wednesday January 24 2018, @07:23PM
BSOD - bather screen of death
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Wednesday January 24 2018, @05:04AM (1 child)
Basically, swimwear is standardized: Guys get either speedos or shorts, gals get either 1-piece or bikinis. There aren't that many variations, they're all pretty similar materials, and the result is that you can buy based on price and a color you like.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 24 2018, @06:06AM
Have you seen the Microsoft's swimwear? No?
Available on Microsoft's Australian store [microsoft.com], exquisitely expensive, not everyone has it.
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0