14 DAY TRIAL // The HSA (Heterogeneous System Architecture) Foundation has released the first standardized method of accessing all available computing resources in HSA-compliant systems.
HSA is a not-for-profit consortium whose goal is to develop architecture specifications that unlock the performance and power efficiency of the parallel computing engines found in most modern devices.
In other words, it busies itself with technologies and programs that can use the parallel performance capabilities of GPUs, integrated or otherwise.
The Programmer's Reference Manual wants to make sure applications can be programmed to use those vast resources.
In fact, it seeks to enable applications that are easy to program and low on energy needs.
GPUs and DSPs are covered in the Manual, and several key hardware features are exploited, like shared coherent virtual memory, GPU self-queuing, user mode queuing and platform atomics.
In layman terms, these features make programming GPU-using applications as easy as creating programs for x86 CPUs.
"AMD is pleased to see that the HSA Foundation is strongly united around making it natural, easy and fun for programmers to utilize the capability of heterogeneous platforms and to innovate in creating modern application with tremendous performance at low power," says Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, heterogeneous solutions, AMD.
Advanced Micro Devices, ARM, Imagination Technologies, LG and Vivante are all eager to see what they can accomplish with the PRM. Especially since existing application programming interfaces (APIs) like OpenCL and Renderscript can benefit (avoid low-latency dispatch and wasteful copies, get improved memory model and shared virtual memory between all HSA devices).
"ARM believes that we can tackle industry issues only by working together in partnership. ARM has collaborated with members of the HSA Foundation since early 2011 to help define standards for heterogeneous computing. This is the Foundation's first publication and we hope that it is one of many steps forward towards realizing fully optimized applications," said Jem Davies, vice president of technology, media processing division and fellow, ARM.
"The Manual enables many organizations to benefit from access to this information, which means that the software ecosystem will be able to create exciting new applications for a range of form factors and devices in energy-constrained systems."