former motto "don't be evil" is clearly (unintentionally) unethical}
}
+
+\frame{\frametitle{Does what we want already exist?}
+ \begin{center}
+ \includegraphics[height=2.4in]{nolibresocs.jpg}\\
+ {\bf Analysis of SoCs over the past 7+ years (answer: no)}
+ \end{center}
+}
+
+
+\frame{\frametitle{What's the problem?}
+
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item {\bf iMX6}: Libre bootable, Vivante 3D GPU (libre etnaviv)
+ but proprietary VPU (and a power-hungry Cortex A9)
+ \item {\bf Allwinner SoCs}: mostly Libre bootable,
+ VPU reverse engineered; GPU: MALI or PowerVR (i.e. proprietary)
+ \item {\bf Rockchip SoCs}: good but using MALI or PowerVR.
+ \item {\bf TI OMAP}: good but using PowerVR. and expensive.
+ \item {\bf Samsung}: good but using MALI.
+ \item {\bf Ingenic jz4775}: GREAT! performance
+ sucks (1ghz MIPS32).
+ \item {\bf Broadcom SoCs}: Cartelled. and boots from the GPU
+ \end{itemize}
+ {\it Basically there does not exist one single commercial SoC that
+ provides full source code for all functions (CPU, GPU, VPU)
+ with modern performance. Which is kinda bizarre if you think about it}
+}
+
+
+\frame{\frametitle{So what's needed? What would a good (Libre) SoC have?}
+
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item Cover a lot of different scenarios (embedded, tablets, industrial,
+ netbooks, crypto-currency mining).
+ \item Decent performance with high efficiency. RISC-V: 40 \%
+ more efficient than ARM / Intel. Shakti a good
+ candidate: 2.5ghz and 120mW per core @ 22nm.
+ \item 1080p video: y'all gotta watch cute kittens on youtube, right?
+ \item 3D GPU: y'all gotta play Angri Burds, right? (or Minecraft)
+ \item No spying back-door co-processors (to steal crypto-wallets)
+ \item No Spectres, no Meltdowns.
+ \end{itemize}
+ {\it Basically quite boring and mundane. No Monster Performance,
+ no AI stuff, no special sauce. Just a plain-old SoC,
+ 40\% more power efficient than ARM/Intel,
+ and not spying on end-users, that's all}
+}
+
+
+\frame{\frametitle{How on earth does an ethical Libre SoC make money???}
+
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item Simple answer: Mask Rights.
+ \item Without Mask Rights: by having a desirable
+ product, and packaging it for a customer (i.e. by being a middle-man
+ a service is still being provided for which payment etc. etc.)
+ \item Without a desirable product or customer(s): err... you don't.\\
+ (cf: definition of Business)
+ \item By not having high NREs (leveraging back-to-back deals,
+ and helping others fulfil their needs)
+ \end{itemize}
+ {\it Detachment from the goal also helps. If someone else makes this
+ product then GREAT! I can go do something else}
+
+}
+
+\frame{\frametitle{Things wot are "off-limits"}
+
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item Customer entrapment (through proprietary software).\\
+ Strong business case for not entrapping customers:\\
+ https://tinyurl.com/most-productive-meeting-ever
+ \item Funding, endorsing, supporting or otherwise empowering
+ unethical Companies, Organisations and Individuals.\\
+ (cf: definition of an ethical act).
+ \item Being totally inflexible / unrealistic. Goals have
+ to be met: it's no good being an idiot about that. e.g. if
+ a Libre 3D GPU really can't be made, use Vivante GC800
+ (with etnaviv).
+ \end{itemize}
+ {\it Still no real show-stoppers to making money (or product):
+ it's just slightly harder, that's all. Ultimately it's about
+ confidence. }
+}
+
+
\frame{\frametitle{Interfaces, Block Diagram, of the Libre-RISCV SoC}
\begin{center}
- \includegraphics[height=2.5in]{../shakti_libre_riscv.jpg}\\
- {\bf Complexity is in the power management }
+ \includegraphics[height=2.1in]{../shakti_libre_riscv.jpg}\\
+ {\bf Separate Power Domains for GPIO banks, Variable voltages
+ required, low-power sleep states etc. Quite involved}
\end{center}
}
+
+\frame{\frametitle{Hardware / Development Complexity Comparison}
+
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item {\bf Server}: relatively easy. PCIe, RapidIO, XAUI, SATA, GbE, 10GE,
+ DDR3/4 (or HMC) etc. etc. No multiplexing: all interfaces dedicated
+ and high-speed differential pairs.
+ \item {\bf Desktop}: really just a variant of Server.
+ Graphics is a PCIe Card (except if integrated). Peripherals
+ often done in dedicated external ICs ("Southbridge" concept)
+ \item {\bf Embedded}: also pretty easy. Really needs a pinmux. Low clock
+ rate, low power mode. e.g. SiFive Freedom U310.
+ \item {\bf Mobile}: HARD. Performance/Watt matters $=>$ variable core
+ voltage domains {\it per core}. Number of pins matters (affects
+ yield and package cost). Cost
+ matters. Pinmux critical.
+ \end{itemize}
+ {\it Bottom line: Mobile-class processors are challenging!}
+}
+
+
\frame{\frametitle{TODO}
\begin{itemize}
projects / libreriscv.git / blobdiff