4 ms·
CUDA is ultimately an API. AMD even has a converter for transforming CUDA cuda to something more portable[0]. While it would be better in a democratic sense f
by Athas 7y ago
CUDA is ultimately an API. AMD even has a converter for transforming CUDA cuda to something more portable[0].
While it would be better in a democratic sense for GPUs to be accessed using a fully free API, having an easily usable proprietary API is still more democratic than a difficult-to-use API (especially when, as here, the easy-to-use layer is actually fully free, and can perhaps be retargeted to fully free lower layers later).
[0]: https://gpuopen.com/compute-product/hip-convert-cuda-to-portable-c-code/ https://gpuopen.com/compute-product/hip-convert-cuda-to-port...
- shmerl 7y agoIt still looks like porting idea, not like a shim that makes CUDA run on AMD. So I'd say CUDA is still locked to Nvidia. AMD are trying to ease up the transition to portable options - that's surely good, but it's not a full fledged lock-in unlocking. I'd say, Nvidia are being hypocritical here, with this whole "democratizing" claim. They are direct beneficiaries of the lock-in they are advancing with it.