Terracotta: Programmable Memory Controller Eases New DRAM Technique Adoption

Researchers at ETH Zürich, CISPA and NYU unveiled Terracotta, a framework combining custom DRAM command extensions with a programmable memory controller. It lets system designers adopt new DRAM techniques post-silicon by configuring the controller instead of modifying the interface and controller.

• Terracotta composes DRAM command extensions into a single standardized interface
• A programmable memory controller supports new DRAM techniques post-silicon
• Goal is to cut repeated modifications to rigid DRAM interfaces and controllers
• Paper published on arXiv as arXiv:2610.06475 in October 2026