14 Future Directions

This chapter captures ideas and enhancements that may be useful for to consider in future versions of the E-Trace specification.

14.1 Vector

Now that the vector extension has been ratified it would be interesting to look at extending E-Trace to support instruction and data trace for vector operations.

14.2 Inter-instruction cycle counts

In this mode the encoder will trace where the hart is stalling by reporting the number of cycles between successive instruction retirements.