- Golden master
A Golden Master is a reference model in hardware/software development.
A simplified example goes like this: When you create a new processor, you don't do the development in silicon. First you are developing simulation models which represent the behavior of the new processor. When this development is finished and your models are tested enough, then this is your golden master for the next steps. When your
FPGA implementation is ready, or when there is already a version in silicon like anASIC , then you put into your model and into your hardware data and compare the results of your development with the results of your golden master. When your data was sufficient and the results are identical, and there is no bug left in your golden master, then your developed hardware is also bug free.The Golden Master or GM version of a reproducible product (e.g.,
software ) is that which is then released for public consumption; typically for subsequent distribution of multiple copies. It represents thedevelopment stage of "RTM" (Release To Manufacturing), often referred to as "going gold", or "gone golden".Apple, Inc. can be seen using the term in a document, first written in April 1988, describing its software versioning system.
The term is often confused with "gold master" which refers to a physical recording entity such as that sent to a manufacturing plant. Apple, Inc. used the term to describe the sending of a physical gold master disc to manufacturing in a Press Release written in March 2001.
References
* " [http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn/tn1132.html] Version Territory" - Apple, Inc. 1988-04-01.
* " [http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/mar/07macosx_gm.html] Mac OS X 'Gold Master' Released To Manufacturing' - Apple, Inc. 2001-03-07.ee also
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Gold master
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
