Project Vicigol - Reverse-Engineering a 28-Bit RISC CPU

Explore the fascinating journey of reverse-engineering an Amlogic Video Decoder processor in this 43-minute conference talk from GPN23. Follow along as the speaker details their methodical approach to understanding this curious little processor, starting from analyzing raw bits and progressing through hand-written instruction execution to developing a complete emulator and architecture manual. Learn about the techniques and challenges involved in reverse-engineering hardware, discover why the "28-bit" designation isn't quite accurate (as the speaker playfully admits), and gain insights into the inner workings of specialized video processing hardware. The presentation chronicles a comprehensive reverse-engineering project that culminates in the creation of Project Vicigol, complete with documentation and tools for understanding this unique RISC CPU architecture.