DooM burned into an FPGA with no CPU, no opcodes — the algorithm is the wires

satnam6502 · x · 2026-11-08

@sylefeb demonstrates a "DooM-chip" running on an Altera CycloneV FPGA + SDRAM: the game algorithm is burned directly into wires, LUTs and flip-flops — no CPU, no opcodes, no instruction counter. It will run E1M1 until power runs out. @satnam6502 calls it a perfect realization of his 2011 "Computing without Processors" vision: one program compiled automatically to any mix of hardware and software, split according to performance and cost targets.

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DooM burned into an FPGA with no CPU, no opcodes — the algorithm is the wires

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