Re: FSF continuously harms Free Hardware

[Leah Rowe]

On Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:14:16 +0000
Jacob Hrbek <kreyren@rixotstudio.cz> wrote:

>  > Modifying *integrated circuits* is virtually impossible -- Leah
> 

(I clarified in a follow-up email that modifying the final assembly is
hard, but that the verilog and such are more practical to modify. I
didn't address fabrication though, in previous emails)

> I disagree on that. From my experience it's very possible, but it's
> usually not economical as people lack the infrastructure and knowledge
> to develop those at home, where crowd-sourcing and outsourcing the
> fabrication to a 3rd party is feasible e.g. what DarkRISCV seems to be
> leaning towards [https://github.com/darklife/darkriscv]
> 
> I agree that verilog files (basically custom C-inspired programming
> language used to define the internal wiring of integrated circuits
> such as CPU, example on
> https://github.com/darklife/darkriscv/blob/159eb623cc47249cd6fa066571499dfdb9da3bcc/rtl/darkriscv.v)
> are very important for hardware and software freedom.
> 

I've bookmarked this. Thank you for showing it. I'm interested in RISCV.

> And i want to also highlight that the production of custom CPUs is
> very possible and somewhat economical and in terms of the EU In
> germany BOSCH invested in major semi-conductor
> factory[https://www.bosch.com/stories/bosch-chip-factory-dresden/] and
> with
>  Taiwan (who has majority of semi-conductor market share) making
> their own factory in
> lithuania[https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4388461] so it's
> projected that the economical cost of production for these chips will
> significantly drop in the next 3 years.
> 
> FWIW to make it understandable to people who are not familiar with the
> subject i see integrated circuit development accurately represented in
> Minetest's Mesecons[https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?t=628] or
> allegedly Rubystone [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?t=17402]
> (or proprietary minecraft redstone) if that helps anyone understanding
> the development process.. Basically you have a pulse that in set
> amount of time reaches set amount of conductor lenght that you then
> work with.
> 
> Video showing the development of 8-bit computer in minetest's mesecons
> for reference: https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=tVAcJHHmkIA

This is really cool. Thank you for linking all of these.

Europe getting its own fabs is also great.

> 
> On 1/25/22 13:48, Leah Rowe wrote:
> > Modifying *integrated
> > circuits*
> is virtually impossible
> 
> --
> Jacob Hrbek
> 


-- 
Leah Rowe <info@minifree.org>
Company Director & Libreboot developer

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