As we all know, LoongArch (Dragon Architecture) developed by Loongson Zhongke is a brand new architecture and 100% independently designed instruction system architecture platform . In order to accelerate the development and growth of itself and the industry, LoongArch architecture platform continuously builds an information industry system and an independent and open software and hardware ecosystem.
At the beginning of this month, the LoongArch architecture platform just realized initial support for OpenHARMony. Recently, the dragon architecture has taken another step forward, and has become the fourth UEFI-supported chip instruction system architecture . What is the significance of this?
dragon architecture takes a step further
Earlier this month, LoongArch (dragon architecture) has taken a step forward, and the platform has initially supported OpenHarmony.
was launched in April this year, and it took 6 months to complete the adaptation verification of long architecture chip and open source Hongmeng. Since then, pure domestic chip architecture and pure domestic operating system have finally crossed the "gap" . The dragon architecture takes this step, and closely combines domestic CPU and domestic operating system, promotes the construction of the software ecosystem and is more conducive to the promotion of independent CPU . Good news like
has not been long since passed, and recently, another good thing has come.
On October 20, LoongArch announced that the basic code of LoongArch has been merged with the UEFI upstream TianoCore EDK2 code, LoongArch has entered the TianoCore EDK2 main branch and has become the fourth officially supported chip instruction system architecture. (First three: X86, ARM, Risc-V)
Note: UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a unified extensible firmware interface. It is a personal computer system specification, which can expand the firmware interface, be responsible for power-on self-test (POST), contact the operating system, and provide an interface to connect the operating system and hardware.
Since early September, the LoongArch64 architecture and some LoongArch32 architectures have received support from the UEFI specification V2.10 specification released by the official UEFI organization. Now, LoongArch has merged the code and completely integrated into the EDK2 community, indicating that the architecture has been further recognized by international official organizations. After crossing the "gap" with the pure domestic operating system of , the
dragon architecture was able to obtain full support from UEFI again, which can be said to have taken another big step forward.
What is the significance of this? Before
says the meaning, we must first figure out one thing. Loongson is a domestic CPU developed completely independently. The independent instruction set is released in April 2021. For a instruction set , which has just been released for one year, its promotion and market expansion will inevitably require a large amount of application software support.
So, this requires a close combination of domestic CPU, domestic operating system, and domestic application software to establish a more comprehensive software ecosystem. Of course, building a software ecosystem is a means to promote independent CPUs, and the purpose is to design CPUs with higher performance and higher degree of autonomy and supporting hardware products.
Therefore, LoongArch has received full support from UEFI and merged with TianoCore EDK2 code, its significance is manifested.
First of all, it is more convenient for developers to participate and is conducive to the establishment of the software ecosystem. After
LoongArch and EDK2 are merged, developers can directly obtain the basic support code of LoongArch in the EDK2 community to directly compile the peripheral driver of LoongArch. You can also obtain open source LoongArch virtual machine code in the community. After successful compilation, you can directly run the LoongArch virtual machine firmware on the popular general-purpose processor in the industry. The more developers join
, the more conducive it is to establish LoongArch's software ecosystem. At the same time, after the platform's user scale expands, the developed applications will also make profits.
Because CPU and software complement each other and need each other, the new platform also needs more developers to join and inject more new vitality. Similarly, some newly developed or less user-friendly application software need to gain a foothold on the new platform in the early stage before they can have the power to fight against old brands.
Secondly, it can gain recognition from international organizations again, which can enhance the influence of LoongArch.
A brand new instruction set platform requires more equipment manufacturers to work together to open up the underlying technology chain and build an independent innovation industrial chain. However, the new platform always needs to gain more recognition from people, and UEFI is the mainstream unified extensible firmware interface.
As early as July, the Dragon architecture had received support for the SMBIOS specification. In this way, it has received comprehensive support from two mainstream "firmware interfaces", further enhancing the influence of LoongArch.
At the same time, it also demonstrates LoongArch's determination to open source and openness, as well as the independent originality of the Dragon architecture. With determination and influence, more equipment manufacturers will participate. The LoongArch architecture and related IP can be widely authorized to other semiconductor companies to jointly build an independent and open source ecosystem.
Conclusion
Dragon architecture entered the main branch of TianoCore EDK2 and became the fourth UEFI-supported chip instruction system architecture, which was a successful step forward. This not only further enhances the influence of LoongArch, but also demonstrates the platform's determination to open source and openness, which will inevitably receive a large number of application software support.
In the future, domestic CPU, domestic operating system, and domestic application software will be more closely integrated, which will be more conducive to promoting the development of the domestic industrial chain.
What do you think about this?
