Learning new things!
Your question:
Why does using a smaller field lead to a more efficient zkVM?
Key points you learned:
| Stage | What happens | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Compilation | Rust → LLVM IR → RISC-V machine code | ELF file |
| 2. Parsing / loading | zkVM loads ELF into memory | memory layout |
| 3. Execution / simulation | zkVM runs RISC-V instructions symbolically | execution trace |
| 4. Constraint generation | Each |
A 32-bit instruction is divided into fields, depending on the format…
When people design an ISA (Instruction Set Architecture), they are really defining the minimum set of operations a CPU must understand in order to run useful programs. At the most fundamental level, that usually boils down to four categories:
[ Rust Program ]
↓
[ Compile to Executable (e.g., ELF, WASM, custom ISA) ]
↓
[ Run on zkVM interpreter or emulator ]
↓
[ Execution Trace (opcodes, memory, registers, etc.) ]
↓
[ Encode Execution Trace into Algebraic Constraints ]
↓
[ Prover proves that trace satisfies the …
Notes from this video
| Feature | Compiler | Interpreter |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Translates the whole program before running | Translates and runs the program line by line |
| Output | Creates an executable file (e.g., .exe) | Does not produce a separate executable |
| Speed (at runtime) | Usually faster (runs native machine code) |
Transpiler:
A transpiler (short for source-to-source compiler) is a tool that transforms code from one representation to another, typically at the same or similar level of abstraction.