[swetland]

Okay, so is there actual documentation for the SoC used on this critter? I mean a full Databook / Technical Reference Manual, not maybe 30 pages of overview, maybe a list of register base addresses (if you're lucky), and a pile of Linux kernel patches (upstream if you're lucky, but still of less value to someone wanting to actually write code for / port something to the SoC) or an "SDK" containing a bunch of low quality vendor code for the peripherals.

I'd love to see a RISC-V SoC (not just a dinky little MCU) that has real / complete documentation. So far I have yet to find any for any of the various RISC-V based SBCs that have shipped.

[kramerger]

This is a Wujian 600 from Alibaba (!). To my knowledge there is currently no publicly available documentation from the chip manufacturer.

Was the idea of an open ISA leading to an open SoC was just wishful thinking?

[pclmulqdq]

Not entirely, but the process is very slow.

RISC-V (and SiFive) caught a moment where it could be used is a way to squeeze ARM on pricing. It doesn't really meaningfully create openness on the interesting parts of the stack (core architecture, SoC architecture, etc.) on its own. In that sense, the hype is overblown.

It does _enable_ open-source cores to some degree, but that's it, someone has to take the leap to make a production-ready one. A few companies are trying, but an open-source SoC is even further down the road.

[panick21_]

Open ISA is necessary but not sufficent. One step on a long journey.

[MisterTea]

The link they liisted to the SoC is also broken: https://t-head.cn/TBD

[vaxman]

oh damn, I was about to go hard on an order bc I liked their location and the story. But I need more Chinese fabricated SoCs (which in 2023 are likely are pre-infected) like I need a hole in the head. I’ve seen quite a few crowds wind up in the garbage heap of history because “errbody is doing it” so forgive me while I plug my ears and scream the word No over and over again while I laugh at dem downvotin’ downvoters dat love cheap Chinese fabricated SoCs.

[imtringued]

>Was the idea of an open ISA leading to an open SoC was just wishful thinking?

The boot process for RISC V is standardised. There are going to be far more RISC-V SBCs that support uefi than ARM SBCs.

[0xTJ]

That's my biggest problem with personally enjoying RISC-V. I'd love to play with an application-class RISC-V processor, writing an OS for it and the like, but I'm waiting on a chip that's publicly well-documented in English.

[apricot]

If I had to wait for documentation in my native language, I would never work on any modern chips, period.

[snvzz]

The more mature VisionFive 2 and its SoC, JH7110, have some documentation[0].

I find the most useful there is the JH7110 TRM specifically.

There's links to a bunch more over here[1].

0. https://doc-en.rvspace.org/

1. https://forum.rvspace.org/t/visionfive-2-faq-quick-links/137...

[yuumei]

Agreed, the best I have found so far is the SiFive Unmatched: https://www.sifive.com/boards/hifive-unmatched which is a full mini-itx motherboard. It's not a SoC though.

As far as I can see, the only thing that isn't documented is the DDR startup/training code, which is a binary blob in u-boot. There are a few registers that are undocumented which need to be set to start up but I think the rest is well documented.

[swetland]

SiFive has pretty good documentation for their cores and chips -- they are more PC/Server class (some lowspeed peripherals plus PCIE and Ethernet) than SoC style. The databook does not have register level docs for PCIE and Ethernet but both look like off-the-shelf IP (hopefully documented somewhere -- I haven't investigated) but otherwise seems pretty thorough.

https://www.sifive.com/documentation

In addition to a documented RV64 SoC, it'd be cool to see some RV32 MCUs that are a little beefier -- more competitive with the mid-range Cortex M4 and M7 stuff (more peripherals, more SRAM, etc) -- instead of the existing stuff that looks similar to very tiny M0/M3 devices.

[snvzz]

The more mature VisionFive 2 and its SoC, JH7110, have some documentation[0].

I find the most useful there is the JH7110 TRM specifically.

There's links to a bunch more over here[1].

0. https://doc-en.rvspace.org/

1. https://forum.rvspace.org/t/visionfive-2-faq-quick-links/137...

[MisterTea]

In addition to all that, is the GPU documented? Clicking "Request technical specs" on the Imagination website brings me to a page asking me for my business name, business email, business...

[2Gkashmiri]

Haha.

Last time I wanted rs-232 specs of a solar inverter, took me months to contact them and after some persuasion, a guy emailed me an NDA I had to physically print, sign, scan and send them back before they gave me a copy.

Obviously I was feeling funny so I signed Johnathan doe and they send me the file.

Turns out, that file was readily available online in forums because others had done the same thing.

So much for NDA. Sigh

[imtringued]

Imagination is trying to opensource their GPU drivers.