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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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How is RISC-V better than arm for Linux? (programming.dev)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Timely_Jellyfish_2077@programming.dev to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Help me understand this better.

From what I have read online, since arm just licenses their ISA and each vendor's CPU design can differ vastly from one another unlike x86 which is standard and only between amd and Intel. So the Linux support is hit or miss for arm CPUs and is dependent on vendor.

How is RISC-V better at this?. Now since it is open source, there may not be even some standard ISA like arm-v8. Isn't it even fragmented and harder to support all different type CPUs?

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[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 51 points 3 months ago (12 children)

RISC-V is better for Linux due to driver support. Vendors making hardware are more likely to use RISK-V for their controllers due to the costs. Modern computers are putting more functions under control of kernels that run on proprietary compute. (There exists a chart showing how little the Linux kernel directly controls.) As more of those devices run RISC-V, they will become more discoverable.
Also, those that can design or program tge devices will have more transferrable skills. Leading to the best designs spreading, and all designs improving.

Places in a computer with compute (non-exhaustive, not all candidates for RISC-V):
BMC
Soundcard (or subsystem on mainboard)
Video card (GPU and the controller for the GPU)
Storage drives
Networking
Drive interface controlling card
Mainboard (not BMC)
Keyboard
Mouse
Monitor
UPS
Printer

Will it be perfect? Nope.
A lot of the vendors will lock things up as well.

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 12 points 3 months ago (7 children)

There exists a chart showing how little the Linux kernel directly controls

I'd be greatly interested in seeing this chart

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Same here

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

To avoid convo in multiple places, it is in reply to message you replied to.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

Thanks!

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