Comments on: Reproducible Research – Studies in Open Source Hardware Design

By: ISO 13485 Implementation

ISO 13485 Implementation — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:30:16 +0000

The documents and approaches described in this book have been successfully implemented and tested at dozens of companies around the World. This book will help both beginners and experienced professionals develop and introduce effective documentation structures for their QMS or EMS, and develop a manual that meets the requirements of applicable standards.

By: Jakob Engblom

Jakob Engblom — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:17:51 +0000

One more example of open-source based on closed tools: http://dutchroll.sourceforge.net/

By: Jakob Engblom

Jakob Engblom — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:06:54 +0000

I am not certain that open-source tools are necessary for open-source work. There are several open-source frameworks built for “proprietary” commercial systems. For example, the DotNetNuke framework that builds on MS .net, IIS, SQLserver (http://www.twit.tv/floss41).

The important aspect is rather that there is a common base platform that many people share and care to collaborate on some topic or code base of common interest. The core of open-source to me is lots of developers sharing the cost to develop common infrastructure, and sharing the source for all to see and modify. Which is independent of the tools used.

Also, lots of open-source code libraries run on any C compiler — gcc is often needed for the most complex stuff like the Linux kernel, but plenty of code also runs just fine with other compilers such as Sun Workstation or Microsoft Visual C++ or Intel C++. Look at the OSCI SystemC kernel, for example. It is open-source, for EDA, but does not require gcc to compile.

Finally, in reply to Jeremy Ralph, note that OVP is not open-source, really, just free as beer. Not free as in freedom, as Stallman would put it.

/jakob

By: Jeremy Ralph @ PDTi

Jeremy Ralph @ PDTi — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:12:50 +0000

More related open source info:

- open source LEON2 and LEON3 SPARC V8 architecture processors with associated cores.
http://www.gaisler.com

- open source OpenRISC and cores
http://opencores.org

- S1, one core of the OpenSPARC T1
http://www.srisc.com

- open source virtual prototyping OVP
http://www.ovpworld.org

By: Pete Richards

Pete Richards — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:00:31 +0000

ARM, at least a few years ago, was working actively to shut down open-source ARM compatible processors, for example Shengyu Shen’s nnARM project:

http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20011102S0121

By: Shrenik Mehta

Shrenik Mehta — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:34:02 +0000

Interesting article. Additional information for the readers of your article

- Most EDA tools company have a generous University Program which provides easy access to EDA tools.

- The OpenSPARC T1 program was announced in Dec. 2005 and the RTL, test suites and tools were made available in March 2006. OpenSPARC T2 was announced in Aug. 2007 and made available in Dec. 2007.
More than 9500 downloads from 137 countries around the world.

Goal is to expand the eco-system around Chip multi-threading, multi-core designs.