The role of FPGAs in a converged future with heterogeneous programmable processors: pre-conference workshop.

The battle of fixed function devices vs. programmable devices has been won by the programmables. The question facing us now is to determine what kinds of programmability to place on next generation systems/devices. Research and development on many applications has shown that different kinds of hardware and software programmability succeed for different application classes: powerful, singlethread-optimized CPUs continue to do very well for many applications; the General Purpose GPU is carving a niche in high throughput, parallel floating point codes in addition to its home turf of graphics; the FPGA is particularly good at variable bit-size computations and data steering, as well as parallel distributed control of networks. Future systems may well need all three types of these types of engines, and perhaps interesting mixtures of them. This is particularly true when we deal with the combined goals of optimizing cost, performance and energy. In this workshop, we will look to the future of the FPGA within these types of 'converged' programmable computing engines, and reflectively ask ourselves: What role can the FPGA play? What future applications in areas such as networking, mobile, and artificial intelligence can be driven by FPGAs? How do FPGAs fit into the architecture realm of CPUs, general purpose GPUs, and DSPs? How should the designer/programme express their intent in the most effective way possible? What are the requirements for a compilation and optimization environment that allow FPGAs to intermix within a heterogeneous and converged future? The intent of this workshop is to open a discussion on these questions. There will be a series of short, invited talks interspersed with free and open discussion.