Free machine - Definition and Overview

Open Hardware (OH) is a part of the GNU project in which hardware designers share their work by disclosing the schematics and software (GNU drivers) used in their designs.

Open Hardware designers meet, discuss what they are doing and ask each other for assistance in finding parts, or seek ideas to solve design problems. OH is also an opportunity to exhibit designs, so some may learn from what others have done.

With the rise of reconfigurable logic devices, the sharing of logic designs is also a form of Open Hardware. Instead of sharing the schematics, HDL code is shared. This is different from Open Software. HDL descriptions are commonly used to set up SoC systems either in FPGAs or directly in ASIC designs. HDL modules, when distributed, are called "cores" or "IP" (intellectual property).

See also OpenCores and OpenRISC

External links

• Openhardware (http://www.openhardware.net).
• Debian Open Hardware (http://opencollector.org/Whyfree/open_hardware.html) at Open Collector (http://opencollector.org/)
• Embedded Linux/Microcontroller Project (http://www.uclinux.org)
• OpenCores (http://www.opencores.org)
• Freedom CPU (http://www.f-cpu.org/)
• Gaisler research (http://www.gaisler.com/)
• Open Source Hardware Initiative (http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Open_20Source_20Hardware_20Initiative).
• DebianWiki page about Open hardware (http://wiki.debian.net/?OpenHardware).