AMD To Open-Source Its Linux Execution & Compilation Stack

An anonymous reader writes "According to Phoronix, AMD will be open-sourcing its Linux execution and compiler stack as part of jump-starting the Heterogeneous System Architecture Foundation. The HSA Foundation was started earlier this month at the AMD Fusion Developer Summit and AMD plans to open up its stack so that others can utilize the code without causing HSA fragmentation. This will include LLVM code, the HSA run-time, an HSA kernel driver for Linux distributions, an HSA assembler, and other components."

Re:Interesting timing...

[pecosdave]

I came here to say this. AMD is basically tea-bagging Nvidia with this.

Sadly, before the ATI/AMD merger I was an Nvidia/AMD fan, and I still have an Nvidia card in my quad core AMD system and still don't like ATI graphics, but I'm beginning to question the logic in that.

I'm so confused.

Re:Interesting timing...

[Jeng]

I'm so confused.

Buy that which fills the needs the best regardless of brand.

Re:fags

[kthreadd]

Linux is for fags.

Of course, everyone is free to use Linux. Even you.

Re:Interesting timing...

[HarrySquatter]

Since when was Linux "the hand that feeds" NVIDIA? If it weren't for CAD and scientific computing people using Linux there would be no Linux drivers. And those groups mostly give fuck all about the drivers being open source.

That's only the OpenCL stuff, right?

[rrohbeck]

I didn't see any mention of opening the 3D graphics drivers or video acceleration. So the open compute code is going to call an opaque blob?

That settles it for me..

[Anonymous Coward]

That settles it for me. I'm buying AMD.

Re:Interesting timing...

[unixhero]

Clearly Linux is feeding NVIDIA with a _platform_. Tegra is an architechture which will sell hundreds of thousands of units, benefiting NVIDIA immensely. It is a classic case of the tragedy of the commons, when a major player like Nvidia uses Linux as an engine of growth and gives little back. Yes, I know, they are providing the Tegra code upstream, so I guess it is kind if inacurate to use it as an example. In any case, any company with such a great success based around another entity's platform should provide some care and love back to that community. The one thing Linux/s needs is source code, and it is all in the interest of performance, usability, stability, interoptability; it's not asking for anything more. Yet, I do understand NVIDIA's conundrum. The driver has almost become an OS in itself because of the complexity of GPUs nowadays. I don't want to get too technical, because it is besides the point of this little post.

Re:Interesting timing...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sometimes it goes beyond that.

Would you buy from a company that best fills needs, but has some practices that you strongly disagree with? What about if you can get something that's (~90%) as good from a competitor, but they're behaving in a manner that you want to encourage?

It's not always so cut and dry.

Re:Interesting timing...

[kthreadd]

What?
Intel has their drivers in the main tree. They work great. NVIDIA provides a binary blob that does not play well with others.

Great for Intel, I guess that's their way of doing business. It would be great if Nvidia did the same thing but they don't have to, that's their right. Nothing wrong with that, just use something else if that bothers you.

I'm in

[Tough Love]

Way to make this decision easy. I was already convinced in principle, just not moving on it. Now I'm moving on it. Fusion FTW!

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