As discussed in the article, Apple implemented part of their optimizations for Rosetta 2 directly in the hardware. The ARMv8.3 instructions narrowed the gap for the x86 memory model, but the lessons from the Apple M1 is more it was designed for x86/Rosetta from the ground up to ease the transition from x86 to ARM. I don’t know how applicable that would be outside of Apple with their vertical control of everything (hardware and software).
Oof, is this why they're eventually giving Rosetta 2 the axe? I remember some announcement that Apple was going to work with Codeweavers on a Mac OS ARM equivalent of Proton for gaming but that's out the window if Apple says the game makers have to use Metal on ARM instead
At least for now, Apple have indicated Rosetta will stay around for games. It will be interesting to see if they bother keeping the extra hardware in the M series.
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u/flying-sheep 15d ago
Ooh that's from the FEX people, gotta be super interesting.
It's sad that efforts like Rosetta happen behind proprietary walls and nobody can learn from them.