RetroTechie 14 hours ago

You're not free to copy SiFive's IP cores.

Open ISA != all implementations of it are free (although in RISC-V case, many are).

  • fidotron 13 hours ago

    Sorry, that was poorly worded.

    My point is that if RISC-V takes off people will struggle to do decent implementations of it without stepping on the toes of the people already in the area.

    I'd go so far as to say this is the entire SiFive strategy.

    • ryao 13 hours ago

      RISC-V already has taken off. There are billions of RISC-V cores shipped in consumer products every year. Adoption outside of the embedded MCU space is slower, but that is natural. Your FUD about SiFive is absurd. Hardware patents related to CPU design are typically ISA independent.

      • fidotron 13 hours ago

        > Hardware patents related to CPU design are typically ISA independent.

        So that is merely the entire semiconductor industry patent portfolio that you will have to avoid.

ryao 14 hours ago

Anyone is free to make a RISC-V CPU without infringing on SiFive’s IP.

  • fidotron 14 hours ago

    Which in practice will mean free to make simplistic implementations using the lessons of twenty years ago.

    If this was a winning strategy those open source implementations of SuperH cores would have been incredibly popular instead of dying in obscurity.

    • ryao 13 hours ago

      SuperH is owned by Hitachi. You cannot use them without a license from Hitachi as far as I know. RISC-V is unique in that its creator permits anyone to make and use RISC-V cores royalty free. It also supports 64-bit, which SuperH never did.

      In any case, you should probably stop writing before you shove your foot any deeper into your mouth.

      • fidotron 13 hours ago

        https://j-core.org/

        > In any case, you should probably stop writing before you shove your foot any deeper into your mouth.

        Apology expected.