# OpenSPARC

> open-source hardware project

**Wikidata**: [Q1361703](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1361703)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSPARC)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/opensparc

## Summary
OpenSPARC is an open-source hardware project that provides openly accessible and modifiable processor design documents, belonging to the class of open hardware. It was developed by Oracle and released to promote transparency and innovation in hardware design.

## Key Facts
- OpenSPARC is an open-source hardware project and a subclass of open hardware.
- Its official website is http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/systems/opensparc/index.html.
- It has 14 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects.
- OpenSPARC Wikipedia articles exist in 10 languages: Catalan, English, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Norwegian.
- Its Freebase ID is /m/096n64, with a reference from the Freebase dump dated October 28, 2013.
- Its Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) is 2778587383.

## FAQs
### Q: What is OpenSPARC?
A: OpenSPARC is an open-source hardware project that makes processor design documents publicly accessible and modifiable, embodying the open hardware principle of transparent hardware development.

### Q: Who created OpenSPARC?
A: OpenSPARC was developed by Oracle, which released it as an open-source hardware project to foster collaboration and innovation in processor design.

### Q: What distinguishes OpenSPARC from other hardware projects?
A: As an open hardware project, OpenSPARC allows unrestricted access and modification of its design documents, unlike proprietary hardware where such designs are kept confidential.

### Q: Where can I find more information about OpenSPARC?
A: Detailed documentation is available through Oracle’s official OpenSPARC website, and summaries exist in Wikipedia across 10 languages.

## Why It Matters
OpenSPARC significantly advanced the open hardware movement by making a complex processor design fully transparent. By releasing a complete CPU architecture under open principles, it enabled researchers, students, and developers to study, modify, and innovate upon processor designs without legal barriers. This democratization of hardware knowledge accelerated education in computer architecture and spurred the growth of community-driven hardware innovation, laying groundwork for future open-source RISC-V projects and open hardware standards.

## Notable For
- Pioneering open-source disclosure of a complete processor architecture by a major corporation (Oracle).
- Demonstrating that complex hardware designs could be transparent while maintaining intellectual property benefits through licensing.
- Creating a foundational reference for open hardware education and community-driven hardware development.

## Body
### Project Classification
- OpenSPARC is explicitly classified as open hardware, meaning its design documents are freely accessible and modifiable by others.

### Official Documentation
- Primary resources are hosted at Oracle’s dedicated website: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/systems/opensparc/index.html.

### Global Reach
- Wikipedia presence spans 10 languages: Catalan (ca), English (en), Spanish (es), French (fr), Hungarian (hu), Indonesian (id), Italian (it), Japanese (ja), Korean (ko), and Norwegian (no).
- Achieved 14 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects, indicating broad documentation coverage.

### Identifier Systems
- Freebase ID: /m/096n64 (referenced in Q15241312 Freebase dump).
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2778587383.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013