VIS Instruction Set FAQ

VIS Instruction Set Designed to accelerate your application. »  VSDK »  mediaLib library »  VIS Overview »  VIS Whitepaper »  VIS FAQ

1. What is the VIS instruction set?
2. How do I use the VIS instruction set?
3. How do I get the VIS Software Developer's Kit?
4. How do I get the mediaLib libraries?

1. What is the VIS instruction set?

VIS is a set of RISC instructions which are extensions to the SPARC V9 architecture and are designed to accelerate multimedia, image processing and networking applications.

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2. How do I use the VIS instruction set?

There are several ways to access the power of VIS:

• At the lowest level, you can write VIS instructions directly in assembler.
• You can program in C and call the VIS C macros, available in the VIS Software Developer's Kit (VSDK).
• You can call the VIS Instruction Set accelerated C functions in mediaLib, Sun's multimedia performance library.
• You can use your existing applications. If your applications use OpenGL, XIL, or XGL, you are automatically taking advantage of VIS, since these libraries have been accelerated by VIS.
• You can use Solaris Operating Environment. There are components within Solaris that are VIS Instruction Set accelerated, so by simply using an UltraSPARC processor, you are likely getting VIS Instruction Set benefits.

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3. How do I get the VIS Software Developer's Kit?

The VSDK version 2.1 is now available. It adds support for VIS Instruction Set version 2.0, which is first implemented in the UltraSPARC-III microprocessor. The VSDK package includes 32-bit and 64-bit inline macro files for VIS instructions, the header file for the inline macros, the VIS User's Manual, sample C and VIS code. It can be downloaded from the following site:

• http://www.sun.com/processors/vis/vsdkfiles.html

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4. How do I get the mediaLib libraries?

The mediaLib version 2.5 is now available. It includes functions for linear algebra, graphics, image processing, signal processing, video processing, and volumetric imaging. It can be downloaded free from following site:

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