RISC-V: Is it Open Source Hardware? (RISC-V part 1)

RISC-V is a free and open Instruction Set Architecture. In this first of four videos, I ask the question, is RISC-V open source hardware? If a company builds a RISC-V CPU, is it required to release its source code for the core?

#garyexplains

[LyashenkoSergiy]

Only Gary works for free. And he even does not have creator's account on patreon.

[gazlink]

The tech tube really needs people who actually know computer science and how the tech industry really operates. This is much appreciated.

[huuphu]

Open standard is not the same as open source.
The "In" and "Out" is open to implement but the execution can either be open or closed.

[blackmennewstyle]

"While there are many open sources cores listed on RISC-V website, none can run Linux"...
"There are other cores, not listed on RISC-V site (like SHAKTI) that can boot Linux"...
Definitely some NVidia directives right here, they really hate us (The GNU/Linux community)...
Excellent video, your channel is absolutely amazing, keep it up the great job <3

[Shindinru]

The fact that designers do not have to publish their changes (source code) to RISC-V is precisely why you are seeing it get commercial traction when all the other "open source hardware" is practically unknown.

[bitelogger]

@Gary not enough words to thank you!!!

[bramblebop]

I'd watch a 40 mins video. You're doing a great job.

[trueriver]

You wait ages for a Risc-V video and then four come along at once ;)

Seriously Gary: I'd have watched either way. However I do prefer having it split into parts for convenience when I want to refer back; or if I want to use it as a reference to rebut other people's (alleged) mistakes.

[worldhello]

@6:13 That means it is not free and open source but it is still open source in the sense of the tools (ISAs) are open source. That Gary dude made clear, it is not unique in this regard but made clear it is less restrictive in other ways. :)

[andrewyork]

Very well put, I will say the biggest promise for RISC V imho is a closed/open software eco system that can allow for OSC hardware. With no need for X86 emulation. Privacy and performance are such hard selling points it will come to fruition.

[seancondon]

3:30 - did you by chance forget that the 8086 80286 were 16-bit only, by chance?

[mohit.kunjir]

Huge thanks for mentioning SHAKTI.... It was completely developed in India

[..]

Thanks, I only had a minimal understanding of RISC-V and I would have believed that the idea was open-source cores. And splitting the video parts was a good idea.

[DanielBlandford]

Thank you for making the important point that they need to eat, because all too often I find people that are interested in my work on Flow Desktop think that it is possible for me to put it together in days whilst eating no food and the same goes for other software as people rampage with 1 star reviews over in app purchases for apps... We all need to eat, and obviously, there is a reason they don't want to pay, they need money, just like those developers do as devs are human too, well, at least most are :\

[karthikts]

The Shakti processor was designed by Indian institute of technology Madras.
It was the first microprocessor designed by a university in India.

[soraaoixxthebluesky]

From Gary Explain to Garyzoid real quick.

[billw.]

The commonly used description for open source is that it's "free as in speech, not free as in beer".

[RichardFrost]

SPARC is not just " Sun Workstations" it's used in high end Oracle and Oracle Fujitsu servers and is still in use today.

[ElderBard]

I love your videos! Bless you man! 👍🏼👍🏼

[mdshaw]

So do the other chip designs, i.e. SPARC, MIPS, J2, etc. require the manufacturer to keep the manufactured chip information open and available to anyone?