A New Type of Instruction for Power

A New Type of Instruction for Power

Explore the evolution of instruction sets in the Linux kernel, focusing on the Power architecture, in this conference talk from linux.conf.au 2021. Delve into the challenges posed by fixed instruction sizes and discover how Power10 introduces a new class of instructions twice as long to address space limitations. Examine the implications of this change on instruction representation, considering factors such as 32-bit and 64-bit systems, endianness, and potential modifications to existing code. Learn how the Linux community collaboratively tackles these questions through mailing list discussions, providing insights into the decision-making process for kernel development.