``One drawback to Stretch`s processor is software compatibility: there isn`t any. The S5400 is based on Tensilica`s Xtensa processor core, so it`s compatible with other Tensilica-based chips, but there aren`t many of those around. Operating systems, middleware, and programmers with Tensilica experience are scarce. Stretch`s compiler is obviously unique, so there`s only one source for that. And, of course, any custom instructions you create will be yours and yours alone. No one will have any software support for those.

On the bright side, a one-of-a-kind microprocessor is a great way to protect your code. It`s pretty hard to reverse engineer a chip with a nonstandard instruction set. A few well-placed foobar instructions can do wonders for obfuscating code.``