Debian 13.0 is set to officially support RISC-V as a CPU architecture, marking a significant milestone for the open-source operating system. The decision comes after nearly a decade of development, with the first RISC-V64 port initiated around 2014. The release, planned for 9 August, will include limited board support and a slow build process due to hardware constraints.
A BoF session at DebConf25 highlighted the progress, with key developers Aurelien Jarno and Bo YU leading the discussion. The current target for Debian RISC-V is the RV64GC architecture, with UEFI-based booting as the default. Over seventeen thousand source Debian packages are building for RISC-V with Trixie. Those wishing to learn more can review the PDF slide deck from DebConf25.
This development reflects the growing interest in RISC-V as an open-source alternative to proprietary chip architectures. While the support is still limited, the move underscores Debian’s commitment to expanding its compatibility with emerging technologies. The Debian community continues to refine the RISC-V port, addressing hardware limitations and improving the build process for future releases.