-## Why a Libre SOC?
+# Why a Libre-SOC?
-Its quite hard to guarantee that a performant processors (think pipelined, out-of-order) are functionally perfectly correct. In fact, it often turns out that they [aren’t](https://meltdownattack.com).
+## TLDR
+
+We believe a computer should be safe to use, and this starts with a open processor.
+
+We also believe that an open processor doesn't mean a weak processor.
+
+Check out our [mission](../The_Mission).
+
+## The Lengthier Explanation...
+
+Its quite hard to guarantee that performant processors (think pipelined, out-of-order) are functionally perfectly correct. In fact, it often turns out that they [aren’t](https://meltdownattack.com).
There are entire [dissertations](http://www.kroening.com/diss/diss-kroe.pdf) dedicated to the subject matter of merely functionally verifying a pipeline (this doesn’t even consider out of order execution).
-Given the fact that performant bug-free processors no longer exist, how can you trust your processor? The next best thing is to have access to a processor’s design files. Not only have access to them, you must have the freedom to study and improve them.
+Given the fact that performant bug-free processors no longer exist [1][2], how can you trust your processor [3]? The next best thing is to have access to a processor’s design files. Not only have access to them, you must have the freedom to study, improve them, run the test suites and be able to improve those too.
+
+Not only that, you and everyone who has a stake in the success needs to be entirely free from NDAs and other restrictions which prevent and prohibit communication. An example: although you yourself might not have the technical capability to review our SoC, you can always find a third party to pay those who can. However if the source code was under NDA, do you think that would be practical to consider?
+
+*Collaboration, not competition*.
+
+Such a processor is referred to as a Libre processor. However, processors themselves are only a part of the picture. Nowadays, most contemporary computing tasks involve artificial intelligence, media consumption, wireless connectivity, etc... Thus, we must deliver an entire Libre-SOC.
+
+* [1]: <https://it.slashdot.org/story/20/03/09/2347202/amd-processors-from-2011-to-2019-vulnerable-to-two-new-attacks>
+* [2]: <https://it.slashdot.org/story/20/03/10/176200/intel-cpus-vulnerable-to-new-lvi-attacks#comments>
+* [3]: <https://libreboot.org/faq.html#intelme>
-Such a processor is referred to as a Libre processor. However, processors themselves are only a part of the picture. Nowadays, most contemporary computing tasks involve artificial intelligence, media consumption, wireless connectivity, etc... Thus, we must deliver an entire LibreSOC.
+# Benefits: Privacy, Safety-Critical, Peace of Mind...
-## Benefits: Privacy, Safety-Critical, Peace of Mind...
-Our LibreSOC will not have backdoors that plague modern [processors](https://www.csoonline.com/article/3220476/researchers-say-now-you-too-can-disable-intel-me-backdoor-thanks-to-the-nsa.html).
+Our Libre-SOC will not have backdoors that plague modern [processors](https://www.csoonline.com/article/3220476/researchers-say-now-you-too-can-disable-intel-me-backdoor-thanks-to-the-nsa.html).
There is a very real need for reliable safety critical processors (think airplane, smart car, nuclear power plant, pacemaker...).
-LibreSOC posits that it is impossible to trust a processor in a safety critical environment without both access
-to that processor's source and a cycle accurate HDL simulator that guarantees developers their code behaves as they
-expect. An ISA level simulator is no longer satisfactory.
+Libre-SOC posits that it is impossible to trust a processor in a safety critical environment without both access
+to that processor's source, a cycle accurate HDL simulator that guarantees developers their code behaves as they
+expect, and formal correctness proofs. An ISA level simulator is no longer satisfactory.
Refer to this [IEEE article](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4519604) by Cyberphysical System expert Ed-Lee for more details.
projects / libreriscv.git / blobdiff