More SpacemiT K3 & K1 Support Landing In Upstream Linux 7.2 - Phoronix

With the upcoming release of Linux kernel 7.2, SpacemiT's RISC-V SoCs, the K3 and K1, are receiving significant upstream support enhancements. The K3 RVA23 now includes working USB 2.0, PWM, and Ziccr... Read original →

The deep integration of SpacemiT’s K3/K1 into Linux 7.2 marks RISC-V’s pivotal shift from 'bootable' to 'production-ready.' Technically, upstreaming USB 2.0, PWM, and Ziccrse support slashes BSP development costs for downstream vendors and accelerates standardization in edge devices—directly eroding ARM Cortex-M/A’s long-tail dominance in industrial IoT. From a compliance standpoint, a fully open-source software stack sidesteps potential U.S. EAR restrictions on proprietary IP cores, bolstering supply chain resilience for China-based ecosystems. Competitors like SiFive and StarFive will likely accelerate their own mainline contributions to avoid ceding ecosystem control. Within 18 months, as K3 penetrates AIoT gateways and machine vision systems, RISC-V could capture over 20% of the 32-bit embedded market—making automotive-grade certification the next critical battleground.