nlnet_2023_svp64_riscv.mdwn

   1 # NLnet SVP64 ISA Expansion Project Grant
   2
   3 * Code:         2023-12-XXX
   4 * Submitted: XX Dec 2023
   5 * Toplevel bugreport: <https://bugs.libre-soc.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1211>
   6
   7 This project is applying for funding through the [NGI Zero Core Fund](https://nlnet.nl/core), a fund established by [NLnet](https://nlnet.nl) with financial support from the European Commission's [Next Generation Internet](https://ngi.eu) programme under grant agreement No 101092990.
   8
   9 <!-- Learn more on the [NLnet project page](https://nlnet.nl/project/Libre-SOC-OpenPOWER-ISA#ack). -->
  10
  11
  12 ## Project name
  13
  14 SVP64 ISA Expansion Project
  15
  16 ## Website / wiki
  17
  18 <https://libre-soc.org/nlnet_2023_svp64_riscv>
  19
  20 Please be short and to the point in your answers; focus primarily on
  21 the what and how, not so much on the why. Add longer descriptions as
  22 attachments (see below). If English isn't your first language, don't
  23 worry - our reviewers don't care about spelling errors, only about
  24 great ideas. We apologise for the inconvenience of having to submit in
  25 English. On the up side, you can be as technical as you need to be (but
  26 you don't have to). Do stay concrete. Use plain text in your reply only,
  27 if you need any HTML to make your point please include this as attachment.
  28
  29 ## Abstract: Can you explain the whole project and its expected outcome(s).
  30
  31
  32 # Have you been involved with projects or organisations relevant to this project before? And if so, can you tell us a bit about your contributions?
  33
  34 A lot! a full list is maintained here <https://libre-soc.org/nlnet_proposals/>
  35 they include recently:
  36
  37 * <https://libre-soc.org/nlnet_2022_opf_isa_wg/> - improving SVP64
  38   and submitting it to the OpenPOWER ISA Technical Working Group.
  39 * <https://libre-soc.org/nlnet_2021_crypto_router/> - proving, improving,
  40   and demonstrating that SVP64 is capable of handling cryptographic
  41   primitives in an extreme power-efficient compact way as the basis
  42   for higher security products
  43
  44 # Requested Amount
  45
  46 EUR 100,000.
  47
  48 # Explain what the requested budget will be used for?
  49
  50 * Assessment of the missing RISC-V instructions (only 96 where
  51   Power ISA SFFS is 214) which are present in Power ISA 3.0
  52 * Implementation of the missing RISC-V instructions that bring
  53   it up to par with Power ISA, in the Scalar ISA space.
  54 * Assessment of application of Simple-V Vector Prefixing to SVP64,
  55   modernising the work already done four years ago under
  56   NLnet Grant 2019-10-012 <https://libre-soc.org/nlnet_2018/>
  57 * Implementing Simple-V in the Libre-SOC Simulator, ISACaller.
  58 * Assembler and disassembler of RISC-V instructions and also
  59   SVP64 in the Libre-SOC infrastructure.
  60 * Upgrading sv-spike which was completed four years ago with
  61   an early prototype Simple-V Specification
  62   <https://git.libre-soc.org/?p=riscv-isa-sim.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/sv>
  63 * Adding a large comprehensive unit test base for the new instructions
  64   which can then be tested against sv-spike as well as ISACaller.
  65   Many of these were already written four years ago and need conversion
  66   to the new format used in Libre-SOC
  67   <https://git.libre-soc.org/?p=riscv-tests.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/sv>
  68 * Documentation, demonstrations and Conference Papers. This is a big
  69   project and is important to engage in outreach.
  70 * Research and assessment of ARM7 and i486 (both on opencores.org)
  71   as to their feasibility for applying Simple-V Prefixing
  72
  73
  74 # Does the project have other funding sources, both past and present?
  75
  76 NGI Search, NGI POINTER, and NLnet Grants is the sole source of funding
  77 for this project, over the past five years. Four grants are at stages
  78 of completion at the time of writing (two nearing end).
  79
  80 # Compare your own project with existing or historical efforts.
  81
  82 ## What are significant technical challenges you expect to solve during the project, if any?
  83
  84 Given that two ISAs have been Vectorised using Simple-V already, this
  85 project is relatively straightforward but horrendously detailed and
  86 comprehensive, requiring meticulous attention to detail and a very
  87 high standard of Project Management. This is a sustained standard
  88 and practices developed already over a five year period that will
  89 continue to be rigorously applied.
  90
  91 ## Describe the ecosystem of the project, and how you will engage with relevant actors and promote the outcomes?
  92
  93 The Libre-SoC has a full set of resources for Libre Project Management and development: mailing list, bugtracker, git repository and wiki - all listed here: https://libre-soc.org/
  94
  95
  96
  97 # Extra info to be submitted
  98
  99 # Questions Received date: TODO