EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Aug 20·5 min read
Going freestanding
TL;DR
A subset of Go, named Solod, was developed to translate to C, achieving 37 standard library packages, with 31 functioning in a freestanding mode. This approach allows for greater independence from libc and OS runtimes.
✦ Why It Matters
Consider exploring freestanding programming environments to enhance portability in your projects.
Key Takeaways
- Utilize compiler builtins to replace standard library functions.
- Implement custom memory operations for freestanding environments.
- Document techniques for future reference and learning.
- Explore the use of hooks for target-specific functionality.
How It Works
The freestanding mode in C allows developers to write code without relying on the standard library, using compiler directives to differentiate between hosted and freestanding environments. By leveraging compiler builtins, such as __builtin_memcpy and __atomic_load_n, the implementation can perform essential operations without libc.
Custom implementations are provided for functions like memchr, ensuring compatibility in environments where standard functions are unavailable.