This video provides a comprehensive update on various open-source silicon projects and community news, following a three-week hiatus. Key highlights include the successful testing and silicon-proving of Ray's open-source Z80 CPU, enabling the first successful modification and execution of a Z80 assembly program on the chip during the stream. The update also covers new deadlines for SpaceX design submissions, upcoming Tiny Tapeout shuttles, advancements in the "Zero to ASIC" course materials, the silicon-proving of the Basilisk SOC, and upcoming conferences in the open-source hardware community.
Open-Source Silicon Stream: Catching Up on Progress and Milestones
0:00 Stream Introduction & Catch-up: The host welcomes viewers to Open-Source Silicon Stream #14, noting a three-week absence and preparing to cover nearly a month of news.
2:11 SpaceX Collaboration Update: 12 designs are ready for the early 2026 SpaceX launch, with a new deadline for design submissions extended to June 20th.
3:33 Pat's Space Circuit Videos: Pat has released two new videos detailing the design, assembly, testing, and coding of space circuits for low Earth orbit.
5:25 Upcoming Tapeout Shuttles: Current and upcoming tape-out opportunities are highlighted on tinytapeout.com, including IHP25B (closing in 90 days) and future Skywater and IHP shuttles, with the latter potentially allowing for wider chip distribution.
6:22 Hacker Day Podcast & Hunter Adams' Talk: The host recommends a video by lecturer Hunter Adams on building with microcontrollers, emphasizing creativity found within limitations.
7:52 Ray's Z80 CPU Working: Major news announced: Ray's open-source Z80 (Zilog Z80-compatible CPU) is successfully working and has been featured in media coverage, offering an open-source alternative to the now-discontinued iconic Z80.
9:46 Zero to ASIC Course Updates: The host discusses improvements to the "Zero to ASIC" course, including testing integration with Harold's OS Docker for easier setup and the implementation of GitHub Actions for automated regression testing of course labs, ensuring material remains up-to-date and functional.
14:40 Tiny Tapeout Experimental Run: A very small, experimental 32-tile tapeout was completed on IHP, showcasing the community's rapid adaptation and the robustness of the infrastructure.
19:35 Basilisk SOC Silicon Proven: The Basilisk SOC, a large open-source System-on-Chip (34 sq mm) from ETH Zurich, has been silicon-proven after a previous standard cell error, demonstrating significant progress in open-source tool capabilities for complex designs.
22:05 Latchup & Upcoming Conferences: Videos from the Latchup conference (May) are now available. Upcoming events include the Free Silicon Conference at IHP and the ORM conference in Valencia (September), with calls for papers and registrations open.
25:54 Live Z80 Demonstration & Modification: The host attempts to reproduce Ray's Z80 test and successfully modify a Z80 assembly program ("Hello World" to "Hello Matt"), assemble it, and run it live on the open-source Z80 chip, confirming its functionality.
59:17 Call to Action: Viewers interested in Z80 or retro computing are encouraged to check out Tiny Tapeout projects, including Ray's open-source Z80 design, which are available for purchase.