Forgot your password?
typodupeerror

Submission + - Libre-RISC-V 3D CPU/GPU applying for EUR 400,000 worth of NLNet Grants (google.com)

lkcl writes: The Libre RISC-V Hybrid CPU/GPU, previously reported on /., is applying for eight additional grants from the NLNet Foundation, totalling EUR 400,000. Details on each Grant Application are on the newly-opened RISC-V Community Forum.

The general idea is to kick RISC-V into a commercially-viable mass-volume high gear by putting forward funding proposals for NEON/SSE-style Video Acceleration to be upstreamed for use by ffmpeg, vlc, mplayer and gstreamer; hardware-assisted Mesa 3D (a port of the RADV Vulkan Driver to RISC-V), and a hardware-accelerated OpenCL port to RISC-V. This all in a "Hybrid" fashion (a la NEON/SSE) as opposed to the "usual" way that 3D and Video is done, which hugely complicate both software drivers and applications debugging.

In addition, the Libre RISC-V SoC itself is applying for grants to do a gcc port supporting its Vectorisation Engine including auto-vectorisation, and, crucially, to do an entirely Libre-licensed ASIC Layout using LIP6.fr coriolis2, working in tandem with Chips4Makers to create a 180nm commercially-viable single-core dual-issue test ASIC.

The process takes approximately 2-3 months for approval. Once accepted, anyone may be the direct (tax-deductible) recipient of NLNet donations, for sub-tasks completed. Worth noting: Puri.sm is sponsoring the project, and, given NLNet's Charitable Status, donations from Corporations (or individuals) are 100% tax-deductible.

Submission + - NLNet funds development of a Libre RISC-V 3D CPU (crowdsupply.com)

lkcl writes: The NLNet Foundation has approved funding for the Hybrid Libre RISC-V CPU/VPU/GPU under its Privacy and Enhanced Trust Programme. High security software is irrelevant if the hardware is fundamentally compromised, for example with the Intel spying backdoor co-processor known as the Management Engine. The Libre RISCV SoC was begun as a way for users to regain trust and ownership of the hardware that they legitimately purchase.

This processor will be the first of its kind, as the first commercial SoC designed to give users the hardware and software source code of the 3D GPU, Video Decoder, main processor, boot process and the OS.

Shockingly, in the year 2019, whilst there are dozens of SoCs with full source code that are missing either a VPU or a GPU (such as the TI OMAP Series and Xilinx ZYNQ7000s), there does not exist a single commercial embedded SoC which has full source code for the bootloader, CPU, VPU and GPU. The iMX6 for example has etnaviv support for its GPU however the VPU is proprietary, and all of Rockchip and Allwinner's offerings use either MALI or PowerVR yet their VPUs have full source (reverse engineered in the case of Allwinner).

This processor, which will be quad core dual issue 800mhz RV64GC and capable of running full GNU/Linux SMP OSes, with 720p video playback and embedded level 25fps 3D performance in around 2.5 watts at 28nm, is designed to address that imbalance. Links and details on the Libre RISC-V SoC wiki.

The real question is: why is this project the only one of its kind, and why has no well funded existing Fabless Semiconductor Company tried something like this before? The benefits to businesses of having full source code are already well-known.

Comment Re:What is an average kernel build time? (Score 1) 186

It depends on the kernel settings. I have a Phenom II 1090T (6-core) processor and it takes hours from a make clean to a complete install. Most of that time the processor is fully loaded.
But, I'm building a BIG kernel, like slackwares Huge.s. For a small embedded device it would take much less time.
As for what kernel config the stat was garnered from, I don't know.
I think I'll try to find it and then see how long it takes on my system. The I can post back my results.

Comment I've been where you are now (Score 1) 172

Hello, perhaps I can be of some small use. I learned python3 as my first language. I was not sure what to do. Linux was great, flowers were blooming, and the whole world was friendly and inviting, albeit complex. I choose to learn C, I was and still am, interested in the Linux kernel. Don't you think it's so cool?! Anyways, long story short, I still have not yet made any contributions. It's only been 2 years since I started learning C, and I decided that before I tried contributing to any real Linux project, I had an obligation to see to it that I coded well. You may view my long and arduous task that I've set about as foolish or not so, but in either case, hindsight and a bug in openssl has shown me that I am at least a responsible developer. I have in the mean time created many "pet" projects that have made my life easier. I have learned an enormous amount in doing so. And I am soon to release an alpha version of a secure skype program. Ultimately, you will decide your own destiny, but here is my advice to you, passed down through several generations, "Discover what you're capable of." and another one, more learned from experience than anything else, "If it's complicated or difficult. If it's labeled as `If you don't know what FOO means you don't need it,` learn it; for everyone else is learning the easy stuff, and who shall challenge the clever and the rich, who shall set anew the boundaries of the known universe and pull down the multiplicative verbosity of the fool, if not you, then who, for surly you would not expect more willingness in others then in yourself, O mortal man?" (Please forgive the assumption, I can't really think of a good sounding nondescriptive noun for that sentence.) And, you are welcome.

Slashdot Top Deals

If it has syntax, it isn't user friendly.

Working...