Eric Korpela, head programmer for Seti@home, has put the source code for Seti@Home worker on SourceForge.net.

This source already has working SSE and AMD 3DNow functions in it (they produce validated WUs). Eric has also produced a template C++ class that should be able to support all SIMD processors (with help, currently SSE, 3Dnow).

Not uploaded yet, but we have an almost working GPU source for graphics coprocessing.

He is currently soliciting programmers who have experience in the following areas.

C++ Optimization: To enhance the existing C++ code

CPU Skilled programmers: Intel x86 & Itanium, AMD K6 through K8, Power PC, Sun Sparc, others with Linux.

SIMD programmers: SSE through SSE3(PNI), 3DNow & 3DNow+, Altivec, Other SIMDs. Optimization, latency elimination, etc.

GPUs: ATI and nVidia processors, internal programming, newest Floating point instructions. Help us add additional WU crunchers with no additional hardware.

Documentation: We need help to keep it all together and answer FAQs of new members. Help describe the program flow, define exising functions with better definiitions.

If you would like to embark on this exciting project then post a note in this forum.

Site: https://sourceforge.net/projects/setiboinc/

Eric's Post: Help optimize SETI@Home

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and the normal user have WHAT about this

> and the normal user have WHAT about this
>

"...and the normal user cares about this why?" is perhaps your question Guido.

seti@Home is running on 150,000+ machines right now.
Many of the owners of those machines might be programmers.
If the programmers help us to improve seti@home, more science gets done faster.

Better, accurate, faster science is the goal of course.

However if you wish to discuss credit...
We would, of course, adjust the credits claimed to give the same credit a WU gets currently, but users would be turning them out faster, and thus faster credit.

Who knows, a programmer might turn out a really advanced 3DNow version, which would benefit AMD users, or another programmer might make great use of the Prescott New Instructions (PNI - SSE3) and those machines would benefit.

Even slower machines might have a really fast graphics card, and with GPU programmers help those users would magically get another CPU for crunching.

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> Even slower machines might have a really fast graphics card, and with GPU
> programmers help those users would magically get another CPU for crunching.
>
Yikes! My head spins... of course this may be possible.
Anyway, great idea to invite all running SETI to help. Lotsa dedicated folks you are sure to find here.

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