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LoongArch SIG Brings New Integration of Loongson CPU and Open Source OS
The deepin V23 version has completed the adaptation of LoongArch, and its products support a number of high-performance multi-core desktop processors such as Loongson 3A6000, Loongson 3A5000 and Loongson 3B5000. This important milestone not only marks a new step in the integration of Loongson CPU and open-source operating systems, but also provides more stable and efficient operating system options for LoongArch computer users.
Loongson and the commercial distribution of deepin, UnionTech OS, have maintained a long-term and in-depth cooperation, known as the "Longtong Combination" in the industry. Both sides have achieved remarkable results in ecological adaptation and commercial project implementation. This year, the deepin community established the deepin LoongArch Special Interest Group (SIG). With the joint efforts of both sides, the deepin V23 LoongArch version has achieved a number of remarkable results.
Achievement 1: Leap in Kernel Support
After in-depth cooperation, LoongArch SIG successfully introduced enhanced platform support for LoongArch in the two versions of kernel 6.6 (long-term support version) and 6.9 (preview version). Given the need of deepin V23 for the 6.6 long-term support version kernel, SIG members transplanted the virtualization and onboard network card support from the latest version of the kernel to the 6.6 version. This move aims to enable user groups who prefer the stable version of the kernel to fully experience the performance and features brought by LoongArch devices.
At the same time, SIG also actively responded to user feedback and fixed a number of key issues, including but not limited to the black screen crash problem that may occur during sleep wake-up, the occasional driver crash problem of AMD graphics cards under high load, and the stability problem of USB devices. These efforts have significantly improved the usability and reliability of the deepin V23 LoongArch version, bringing users a more stable and comfortable use experience.
Achievement 2: Desktop Support Innovation
On the basis of strengthening the support of the system bottom layer, desktop experience is also one of the core work areas of LoongArch SIG. Since May, LoongArch SIG has actively contributed a series of important patches, including the LoongArch support patches for QtWebEngine (covering both Qt 5 and Qt 6 versions), the Mesa OrcJIT support patches, and the LSX/LASX vector optimization patches for the Pixman 2D rendering library. These efforts aim to further improve the user experience through the improvement of core functions and the optimization of detailed performance.
Relying on the rich achievements and valuable experience accumulated by SIG and the upstream community, the pre-installed software set of deepin V23 LoongArch has now achieved a high degree of alignment in function with the X86 architecture: for example, deepin mailbox, voice notes, reader and so on have fully supported LoongArch, and widely used browsers and communication tools such as Firefox and Thunderbird have also been updated to the latest versions, ensuring that users can enjoy a complete, efficient and safe use experience.
In addition, LoongArch SIG has also deeply explored and integrated the libLoL LoongArch application compatibility layer from the Anthon open source community. This compatibility layer effectively reduces the cost and difficulty of migrating from the old ecosystem to the new ecosystem. It is particularly worth mentioning that key applications such as WeChat, QQ and WPS have achieved perfect support for LoongArch through this compatibility layer.
Achievement 3: Improvement of Development Tool Chain
According to the requirements of the deepin V23 version specification, LoongArch SIG has coordinated and completed the adaptation work of basic tools such as GCC 12, Binutils 2.41 and LLVM 17. The team introduced key functions such as LSX vector instruction set optimization support and connector Relaxation from the upstream and carried out preliminary functional verification, ensuring the development function requirements of software manufacturers and users while guaranteeing version compliance.
On this basis, SIG further enabled the 128-bit vector instruction set optimization by default for the LoongArch system, which can significantly improve the running performance of various software under this architecture and optimize the user experience.
In addition, in order to enhance the basic security of the system, we have enabled binary hardening for all system binaries. This measure can improve the system's defense ability against potential security threats and ensure the security and stability of user data and the system.
