book(background): add risc-v page

book/src/SUMMARY.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
             - [Bytecode](./how/bytecode.md)
             - [R1CS constraints](./how/r1cs_constraints.md)
         - [M extension](./how/m-extension.md)
-        - [Sparse constraint systems](./how/sparse-constraint-systems.md) 
+        - [Sparse constraint systems](./how/sparse-constraint-systems.md)
     - [Background](./background.md)
         - [Sumcheck](./background/sumcheck.md)
         - [Multilinear Extensions](./background/multilinear-extensions.md)
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
         - [GKR](./background/gkr.md)
         - [Binius](./background/binius.md)
             - [Multiplicative Generator](./background/binius/multiplicative-generator.md)
+        - [RISC-V](./background/riskv.md)
     - [Dev](./dev/README.md)
         - [Install](./dev/install.md)
         - [Tools](./dev/tools.md)

book/src/background/riskv.md

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# RISC-V
+
+[RISC-V](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RISC-V) is an open source [instruction set architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set_architecture) (ISA) based on established [reduced instruction set computer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_instruction_set_computer) (RISC) principles. Every RISC-V implementation must include the base integer ISA, with optional extensions available for additional functionality.
+
+Jolt implements the base RISC-V instruction set, making it a RISC-V-compliant virtual machine. This means Jolt can execute and prove any code that compiles to RISC-V.
+
+## Supported Instruction Sets
+### RV32I
+The RV32I is the base 32-bit integer instruction set. It's designed to be sufficient for a complete software toolchain while being simple and minimal. Everything else in RISC-V (multiplication, floating point, atomic operations) is built as extensions on top of this base ISA.
+#### Key properties:
+- 32-bit fixed-width instructions
+
+- 32 integer registers (`x0-x31`), where `x0` is hardwired to zero. Register `x1/ra` is reserved for return address linkage by jump-and-link instructions, `x2/sp` is conventionally used as __stack pointer__. Each register is 32 bits wide and used for both integer and memory address computations.
+
+- 32-bit address space (byte-addressed and little-endian). Memory accesses can be to byte (8-bit), halfword (16-bit), or word (32-bit) sized values
+
+- Basic arithmetic operations (add, subtract, shift, logical operations)
+
+- Load/store architecture means memory can only be accessed through dedicated load and store instructions - all other instructions operate only on registers
+
+- Simple addressing mode of base register plus 12-bit signed immediate offset. No complex memory addressing modes or memory-to-memory operations
+
+- Conditional branches and jumps are supported
+
+For detailed instruction formats and encoding, refer to the __chapter 2__ of [specification](https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/riscv-spec-20191213.pdf)
+
+## LLVM
+[LLVM](https://llvm.org/) is a versatile compiler infrastructure that supports a variety of languages and architectures. RISC-V is fully supported by the LLVM compiler infrastructure:
+- Official RISC-V backend in LLVM
+
+- Support for all standard extensions (M, A, F, D, C)
+
+- Integration with standard LLVM tools (clang, lld, lldb)
+
+- Support for both 32-bit and 64-bit targets
+
+One of the key features of LLVM is its __Intermediate Representation (IR)__. IR serves as a bridge between high-level languages and machine code.
+This means any language that compiles to LLVM IR (like C, C++, Rust, etc.) can be compiled to RISC-V and subsequently proven by jolt:
+
+![Compilation to RISC-V target](../imgs/compilation_to_riscv.png)
+
+## References
+- [RISC-V Specifications](https://riscv.org/technical/specifications/)
+- [RV32I Base ISA Specification](https://github.com/riscv/riscv-isa-manual/releases/download/Ratified-IMAFDQC/riscv-spec-20191213.pdf)
+- [RISC-V Assembly Programmer's Manual](https://github.com/riscv/riscv-asm-manual/blob/master/riscv-asm.md)
+- [LLVM RISC-V Backend Documentation](https://llvm.org/docs/RISCVUsage.html)