From 641b8cff291ba9dec8a88e20cb28919ef8bf156e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: lkcl Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2021 16:28:10 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] --- nlnet_2021_3mdeb_cavatools.mdwn | 30 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-- 1 file changed, 28 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/nlnet_2021_3mdeb_cavatools.mdwn b/nlnet_2021_3mdeb_cavatools.mdwn index 61cefa413..15f00d830 100644 --- a/nlnet_2021_3mdeb_cavatools.mdwn +++ b/nlnet_2021_3mdeb_cavatools.mdwn @@ -53,9 +53,11 @@ EUR $50,000. initramfs in-memory with basic serial console access * To demonstrate running first a single core linux kernel and later a SMP one, with busybox -* To use the exact same Spec c compiler to create +* To use the exact same Specification c compiler to create an "illegal instruction trap" emulator, integrated - into the linux kernel for emulating SIMD instructions. + into the linux kernel, for emulating Power ISA SIMD instructions + (extending the existing trap-and-emulate code already present + in ppc64 linux kernel source code) # Does the project have other funding sources, both past and present? @@ -66,9 +68,33 @@ aditions. # Compare your own project with existing or historical efforts. +Although there are quite a few Power ISA simulators, none of them +are up-to-date or are suited to high performance, like cavatools. +cavatools is multi-process and extremely fast, using relatively little +memory, where power-gem5, which has a different focus, uses vast amounts +of memory and is much slower. +DolphinPC and pearpc are over 15 years old and were targetted at 32 bit +emulation of much older Power ISA processors. Libre-SOC's python-based +simulator only achieves aroubd 2,000 instructions per second on +high performance hardware whereas +cavatools achieves 200,000 instructions per second per processor +on modest hardware. +IBM's own Power ISA simulator is proprietary and, because it contains +confidential experimentation internal to IBM, may not be made public. + ## What are significant technical challenges you expect to solve during the project, if any? +This is at its heart a compiler project, which can be a challenging +area. However the language being implemented is quite small and limited, +so the project is relatively straightforward. ## Describe the ecosystem of the project, and how you will engage with relevant actors and promote the outcomes? +The project will be developed entirely publicly and transparently, +using Libre-SOC Project Resources which are already set up for trustable +auditability and transparency. + +Online conferences and talks will be given as progress +is made, as well as + # Extra info to be submitted -- 2.30.2