Linux @programming.dev boredsquirrel @slrpnk.net 1 mo. ago

AMD takes down NVIDIA-CUDA replacement for Intel GPUs. What?

The developer wants to continue the project from the codebase before they used the AMD ROCM code.

Previously, it allowed to run CUDA apps on Intel GPUs (integrated I think) and beat OpenCL in performance.

https://github.com/vosen/ZLUDA

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Did you editorialise this title and description? How did AMD take down an Intel specific project? Are you intentionally missing out the amd-backed development for zluda on amd gfx? If Zluda can run unmodified CUDA code, where does ROCm factor in?
- The project started as an independently developed ZLUDA, meant for Intel GPUs. AMD started funding development of the project, expanding its scope to also work on AMD GPUs, with the condition that if AMD abandons it, the code would become open source. This happened a few months ago, but now for some reason AMD backtracked and pulled the open-source code for reasons we don't know. AMD is usually pretty good with this stuff though, so I'm interested to find out what their motives are.
  
  I'm familiar with the timeline of events, it's just that this post title is intentionally obscure. As for why, it could be due to a recent enforcement by NVIDIA of a specific part in their EULA
  
  Nvidia has banned running CUDA-based software on other hardware platforms using translation layers in its licensing terms listed online since 2021, but the warning previously wasn't included in the documentation placed on a host system during the installation process. This language has been added to the EULA that's included when installing CUDA 11.6 and newer versions.
  
  The restriction appears to be designed to prevent initiatives like ZLUDA, which both Intel and AMD have recently participated, and, perhaps more critically, some Chinese GPU makers from utilizing CUDA code with translation layers.
  
  My guess is that either AMD were directly contacted or preemptively closed off a legal loophole.
  
  E: I was wondering where I recognised this username from
  
  Probably, AMD was only doing open source because Nvidia wasn't. Now that it is no longer as advantageous since Nvidia is open sourcing (still no nvcc !!!), it is less advantageous. It's typical capitalism conservative terminal brain rotting cancer. They don't do the right thing unless it is profitable to do so. There is no big picture or ethics; just criminals and quarterly reports.
  
  ...or it was found to violate CUDA's EULA and taken down as a precaution https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/nvidia-bans-using-translation-layers-for-cuda-software-to-run-on-other-chips-new-restriction-apparently-targets-zluda-and-some-chinese-gpu-makers
  
  What's stopping Windows from banning WINE if this is the case?
  
  I suppose if zluda interpreting native cuda code on other IHV platforms is "illegal", whereas HIP can legally be used to translate CUDA to ROCm at runtime, I would equate WINE to HIP, as it translates Windows API calls to POSIX for linux and Unix systems.
  
  I'm not sure Microsoft have a leg to stand on with a move like this given their legal troubles in the past around becoming a monopoly. Maybe they don't see as much threat given the low share of linux and unix (including mac) desktops
  
  There's still a bit of friction around actually leveraging WINE on non-Windows systems, with Proton being a relatively recent outlier as it offers you a mostly plug and play experience via steam, lutris and others.
  
  For nvidia, zluda can allow other IHVs with significantly cheaper DC solutions to undercut them with no friction whatsoever.
- FTFR:
  
  What happened
  
  The code that was previously here has been taken down at AMD's request. The code was released with AMD's approval through an email. AMD's legal department now says it's not legally binding, hence the rollback. Before anyone asks: I have received no legal threats or any communication from NVIDIA.
  
  What now
  
  At this point, one more hostile corporation does not make much difference. I plan to rebuild ZLUDA starting from the pre-AMD codebase. Funding for the project is coming along and I hope to be able to share the details in the coming weeks. It will have a different scope and certain features will not come back.
  
  For Those Fucking Realising?
  
  For The Far Reaches?
  
  Fuck The Fucking Rules?
  
  For The For Real?
  
  For Those Fretting Realism?
  
  Frisky Taters For Rayleigh?
  
  Anti Commercial-AI license
  
  Flash-Thawing Frozen Ribeye!
  Fixed That For Roger
  Finally, Those Failures Resolved
  Fastly, The Foxes Ran
  
  Folgers, The Fuckedest Roast? 🤷
  
  (Just having a bit of fun here :3 )
  
  Edit: Corrected formatting @.@ :-\
  
  From The Fucking Readme
  
  For the future reader?
  
  I'm aware of this and alluded to it in my other reply

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