OpenCL in Beta SDK for GPUs and Multicore CPUs
Chipmaker AMD has integrated the open standard OpenCL specification for parallel programming into its ATI Stream development environment.
The Open Computing Language (OpenCL) should allow developers to address both graphical and multicore processors for their parallel programming projects with a new beta version of the ATI Stream SDK version 2.0. The idea behind the OpenCL specification is to harmonize parallel programming for GPUs and multicore CPUs to improve speed and responsiveness.
By AMD's own reckoning, integrating the specification into its ATI development environment represents the first ever OpenCL development platform. The final version of ATI Stream SDK 2.0 is planned for later in 2009. The SDK is downloadable from the AMD project page as binaries in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The supported Linux distros are openSUSE 11 and Ubuntu 8.04. SDK use requires registration as an AMD developer, after which participation in their forum is available.
OpenCL is an open standard for parallel programming for multicore and graphics processors. The current specification version 1.0 has information on the C-based programming language and the platform-layer and runtime APIs. Around 30 firms are involved in its development, among them IBM, Intel, Toshiba, Freescale, Nvidia, QNX and Texas Instruments. The AMD ATI website includes an introduction to OpenCL. The Khronos Group, which is initiating the OpenCL development effort, has the full 300-page specification on their website.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Wayland 1.24 Released with Fixes and New Features
Wayland continues to move forward, while X11 slowly vanishes into the shadows, and the latest release includes plenty of improvements.
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
LibreOffice Tested as Possible Office 365 Alternative
Another major organization has decided to test the possibility of migrating from Microsoft's Office 365 to LibreOffice.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.