Open hardware (was: Re: FOSDEM lightning talk slides)

Sébastien Bourdeauducq sebastien.bourdeauducq at lekernel.net
Thu Feb 4 15:58:41 EST 2010


On Thursday 04 February 2010 17:53:57 Ron K. Jeffries wrote:
> Copyleft hardware includes (to my mind) open hardware
> projects which incorporate complex silicon such as a processor
> where the programming API is open, but the chip manufacturer
> does not disclose detailed design at gate level.
> 
> Arduino is a good example, where multiple outfits around the
> world design, manufacture and sell PCBs and kits that are
> clones of Arduino, or are "shields" that plug in and add functions.

Ok. So, please note that a x86 PC also fits into this definition of open 
hardware: Intel discloses programming manuals for their processors and 
chipsets, with a little research you can find schematics and gerbers of some 
motherboards (which, anyway, aren't *so* hard to design nowadays, as the 
chipsets do pretty much everything) and multiple outfits around the world 
design, manufacture and sell PCBs, kits and devices that are clones of the 
original IBM PC, or are "peripherals" that plug in and add functions.

It's good to see people believe in open hardware and start with easier 
projects; but copyleft gate-level designs are the way to go, especially since 
chips do most of the work in today's devices and are sometimes highly 
specialized and quickly become obsolete.

Sébastien




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