Re: [f-cpu] License issues GPL/LGPL and Juergen Goeritz' SoC

[Ben Franchuk <bfranchuk@jetnet.ab.ca>]

Michael Riepe wrote:
> 
> I love standards -- there are so many of them to choose from ;(

Don't forget paper-tape I/O formats too for bootstrapping.
Here are some old computer doc's to know what puter's are really
like :)
http://www.spies.com/~aek/pdf/

A network interface may be the best 2nd GPL I/O device
developed.The Memory controller the first GPL device. As always
paper tape and punched cards optional equipment.
With memory/network interfaces on the FPGA you can get a simple
development board up quickly.

> I'm afraid that we may get an `interface explosion' when users start to
> populate the area around the F-CPU core with their own stuff.  In order
> to prevent that, we should provide a fixed, well-documented `general
> interface' and encourage people to connect to it instead of patching
> the core.

I go even further - develop a clean virtual cpu with simple I/O.
The OS then has fun job of mapping to the i/o but it looks to be
les complex than virtualizing real hardware.

Also VHDL I don't think is the best way to document the F-CPU.
The F-cpu should be able to be recreated from from original
documents. Testing on the real hardware is still important and
test programs needed to be written for the F-CPU hardware. 
F-CPU simulation is important but it is the hardware that gets
used.

As long as we have leaders like YG ( The System designer? ) who
know what direction the F-CPU will take I don't think we will
have a patched and hacked system like the PC developed into.

>  Michael "Tired" Riepe <Michael.Riepe@stud.uni-hannover.de>
>  "All I wanna do is have a little fun before I die"
> *************************************************************

Ben.

-- 
Standard Disclaimer : 97% speculation 2% bad grammar 1% facts.
"Pre-historic Cpu's" http://www.jetnet.ab.ca/users/bfranchuk
Now with schematics.
*************************************************************
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to majordomo@seul.org with
unsubscribe f-cpu       in the body. http://f-cpu.seul.org/