nickelV

NickelV is a programming language designed for the GDC (Graphics Development Company) hardware platform. It is a combination of a high-level and assembly-like syntax, making it suitable for both rapid prototyping and low-level system programming. The language was developed by Fortech Systems, a company specializing in high-performance graphics solutions.

NickelV's design goals were focused on ease of use, architecture independence, and high-performance capabilities. It features a dynamically-typed syntax, sandboxes designed for task-level execution, and an instruction-level virtual machine. The language is notable for its integration with the NVIDIA CUDA driver API, which enables direct access to the hardware's capabilities.

Some of the key features of NickelV include immediate, constant, and method operand stack types, in addition to num-method gadget dispatch tables, parameter-passing-slot entry points, and elimination extract entries. The language also includes PAC (pointer authentication codes) enable flags and typed-self/generic-specific fusion policy.

The primary areas of application for NickelV include real-time graphics, scientific simulation, high-speed modeling, and many other fields where maximum performance and programmability are crucial. With its complex programming model and hardware-assisted functionality, NickelV makes it possible to write an entire system's firmware or even part of its software, making it easier to manage and program the specific niche of GDC hardware.

Through its diverse range of features and its focus on high-performance capabilities, NickelV has secured itself a unique place in the programming language and GPU industry with developers of its compatible hardware.