History
DARPA programmes
DARPA-supported research provided important foundations for CHERI's architecture, hardware prototypes, software stack and rigorous engineering.
Why it matters
Long-term programme support allowed architecture, implementation and evidence to develop together across institutions.
In brief
DARPA-supported research provided important foundations for CHERI’s architecture, hardware prototypes, software stack and rigorous engineering. Successive work helped test whether capability ideas could be adapted to modern, practical systems.
The practical legacy is the combination of an architecture, implementations, open software and evidence that could be tested together. When using the history to support a claim, cite the specific programme output or publication rather than treating all CHERI work as one undifferentiated project.
Key considerations
1. Foundations
Define a capability architecture that can coexist with conventional software and RISC design.
2. Prototypes
Implement processors and a broad open-source software stack to expose real compatibility and systems questions.
3. Assurance
Use formal models and testing to improve design quality and support security reasoning.
Evidence and caveats
Programme names, dates and deliverables should be taken from primary DARPA and project records; summaries often collapse distinct phases.
Use dated primary project, funder and provider records. Separate what was planned, demonstrated and subsequently delivered.