Re:I built a hardware processor that runs Python
by IlikeKitties on Monday April 28, 2025 @10:31AM
(#43821937)
Oh, my comment wasn't meant as a criticism just curiosity because I would have been extremely surprised to see such a project being fabricated.
I find the idea of a processor designed for a specific very high level language quite interesting. What made you choose python and do you think it's the "correct" language for such a project? It sure seems convenient as a language but I wouldn't have thought it is best suited for that task due to the very dynamic nature of it. Perhaps something like Nim which is similar but a little less dynamic would be a better choice?
Re:I built a hardware processor that runs Python
by jamesfmilne on Monday April 28, 2025 @10:29AM
(#43821916)
Could be a candidate for Tiny Tapeout in the future.
Re:I built a hardware processor that runs Python
by throwawaymaths on Monday April 28, 2025 @10:27AM
(#43821894)
there are several free asic shuttle runs available for hobbyists iirc
Re:I built a hardware processor that runs Python
by ActorNightly on Monday April 28, 2025 @01:49PM
(#43824067)
Im not super versed in hardware, but whats the reason you can't adapt this to run on an ARM microprocessor chip? Why go with FPGA?
Like if I could buy a Cortex board and write Python, hit compile, and have the thing run, this would be INSANELY useful to me, cause cortex chips have pretty great A/D converters for sensing.
This is still an early-stage project — it's not completed yet, and fabricating a custom chip would involve huge costs.
I'm a solo developer worked on this in my spare time, so FPGA was the most practical way to prove the core concepts and validate the architecture.
Longer term, I definitely see ASIC fabrication as the way to unlock PyXL’s full potential — but only once the use case is clear and the design is a little more mature.