# To keep an eye on:
* <https://www.iscaconf.org/>
+
+# XDC 2020
+
+* <https://xdc2020.x.org/event/9/abstracts/>
+[[conferences/xdc2020]]
+
+# OpenPOWER 2020
+
+* <https://linuxfoundation.smapply.io/prog/openpower_na_2020/>
+* <https://openpowerna2020.sched.com/>
+* <https://openpowerna2020.sched.com/event/eDqa/the-libresoc-initiative-a-hybrid-cpuvpugpu-luke-leighton-libresoc?iframe=no&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no>
+
+# SFSCON 2020, italy
+
+* <http://sfscon.it/> - Roberto PPC64 Notebook
+* <https://www.sfscon.it/talks/202x-open-hardware-concrete-approach/>
+
+## Why a Libre 3D CPU / GPU / VPU?
+
+* Study of SoCs (Allwinner, Rockchip, NXP) shows none are fully Libre
+ - Either GPU driver firmware is proprietary, or VPU firmware, or bootloader
+* This causes customer product development issues
+ - https://tinyurl.com/valve-steam-intel
+* Businesses are waking up to lack of transparency
+ - Intel Management Engine (spying backdoor co-processor)
+ - Spectre, Meltdown, CSME (Chain-of-Trust) issues
+* Solution: full transparency. All source available for everything.
+
+## How is LibreSOC being developed?
+
+* Using Libre (rather than "open") development practices
+ - no "I'll release it when it's ready": all development is real-time public access
+* No NDAs, no hidden discussions
+ - we can invite anyone (any expert) to help with review
+ - free to ask for help anywhere in the world (comp.arch, stackexchange)
+* Using litex, nmigen, opencores HDL
+ - heavily depending on python OO (not possible with VHDL or Verilog)
+ - leap-frogging ahead by not reinventing the wheel
+ - yosys converts nmigen to verilog for standard tools.
+
+## Why is it different from other SoCs?
+
+* LibreSOC is a hybrid CPU-VPU-GPU architecture.
+ - OpenPOWER ISA *itself* is extended to include 3D and Video instructions
+ - (SIN, ATAN2, YUV2RGB, Texture Interpolation)
+ - Only after approval of OpenPOWER Foundation!
+ - There is no separate GPU or VPU: it really is the same core.
+ - Massively simplifies driver development and application debugging
+* Vectorisation is "Simple-V" (VSX not being implemented)
+ - VSX is SIMD and is considered harmful
+ - https://www.sigarch.org/simd-instructions-considered-harmful/
+
+
+## What is being developed? (Roadmap)
+
+* First simple core achieved in simulation Sep 2020
+ - FPGA (ECP5) target followed shortly
+* First silicon tape-out 180nm deadline 2nd Dec 2020
+ - sponsored by NLnet, with help from Chips4Makers Libre Cell Libraries
+ - layout is entirely libre-licensed tools: coriolis2 from lip6.fr
+* Next chip is "SBC" style quad-core
+ - similar spec to Allwinner A64, Rockchip RK3399
+ - targets "Pi" boards, smartphones, tablets, Industrial IoT
+
+## Contact
+
+* Freenode IRC #libre-soc
+* Website https://libre-soc.org
+ - mailing list, git repos, bugtracker etc.
+