Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#1

Post by panic » Thu, Apr 13, 2023, 9:04 AM UTC

Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain
github.com

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#2

Post by dmitrygr » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 1:08 AM UTC

Sadly it is mostly abandoned. But not only was it the smallest CPU with a gnu toolchain, there was also a port of linux no-mmu unto it!

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#3

Post by xyzzy123 » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 1:34 AM UTC

dmitrygr wrote: post #2

Sadly it is mostly abandoned. But not only was it the smallest CPU with a gnu toolchain, there was also a port of linux no-mmu unto it!

Hi, what are the differences in this case between "abandoned" and "finished"?

Guessing a lot of toolchain / software rot?

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#4

Post by dmitrygr » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:01 AM UTC

xyzzy123 wrote: post #3

dmitrygr wrote: post #2

Sadly it is mostly abandoned. But not only was it the smallest CPU with a gnu toolchain, there was also a port of linux no-mmu unto it!

Hi, what are the differences in this case between "abandoned" and "finished"? Guessing a lot of toolchain / software rot?

Yes. That. And the original people who ported the toolchain no longer care.

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#5

Post by goldenpreppy8 » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:19 AM UTC

dmitrygr wrote: post #2

Sadly it is mostly abandoned. But not only was it the smallest CPU with a gnu toolchain, there was also a port of linux no-mmu unto it!

Truly sad. Open source project that is highly customizable, with users able to select the instruction set and data path that best suits their application, and the best part , developers can write programs for the ZPU using standard C (GNU Compiler Collection toolchain).

Also wasn't the original purpose of the project to create CPU with low-power consumption? And yet it was capable of 200mhz on 32 bit instructions if I'm not mistaken. Packs a punch , especially if it was designed for battery powered devices. What led it to get abandoned?

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#6

Post by dmitrygr » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:42 AM UTC

goldenpreppy8 wrote: post #5

dmitrygr wrote: post #2

Sadly it is mostly abandoned. But not only was it the smallest CPU with a gnu toolchain, there was also a port of linux no-mmu unto it!

Truly sad. Open source project that is highly customizable, with users able to select the instruction set and data path that best suits their application, and the best part , developers can write programs for the ZPU using standard C (GNU Compiler Collection toolchain). Also wasn't the original purpose of the project to create CPU with low-power consumption? And yet it was capable of 200mhz on 32 bit instructions if…

The problem with the ZPU is that the performance is at best something like 0.1MIPS/MHz

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#7

Post by aappleby » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:50 AM UTC

I've written Risc-V RV32I cores that are about the same size as this, or possibly smaller depending on how you count what the "core" is.

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#8

Post by ktta » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:57 AM UTC

aappleby wrote: post #7

I've written Risc-V RV32I cores that are about the same size as this, or possibly smaller depending on how you count what the "core" is.

Is the source of your core by any chance available online, even if not open sourced?

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#9

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 3:05 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Zylin ZPU: 32 bit CPU with GCC toolchain

#10

Post by culanuchachamim » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 3:48 AM UTC

Sorry for the ignorance, but it's only software emulating a CPU, or there is a actual hardware?