openpower/sv/SimpleV_rationale.mdwn

   1 [[!tag whitepapers]]
   2
   3 # Why in the 2020s would you invent a new Vector ISA
   4
   5 Inventing a new Scalar ISA from scratch is over a decade-long task including
   6 simulators and compilers: OpenRISC 1200 took 12 years to mature.
   7 A Vector or SIMD ISA to reach stable
   8 general-purpose auto-vectorisation compiler support has never been
   9 achieved in the history of computing, not with the combined resources of
  10 ARM, Intel, AMD, MIPS, Sun Microsystems, SGI, Cray, and many more.
  11 GPUs have ultra-specialist compilers, and standards managed by the
  12 Khronos Group, with multi-man-century development committment.
  13
  14 Therefore it begs the question, why on earth would anyone consider this
  15 task?