SemiTO-V list of RISC-V and Open Source Hardware/Software tools

This is a comprehensive list of essential tools, repositories, and organizations dedicated to advancing the RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) and the broader Open Source Hardware and Software landscape. It is curated by SemiTO-V, first RISC-V student team in Europe.

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Official RISC-V Initiatives

• RISC-V International: The primary organization maintaining and standardizing the RISC-V ISA.
  • https://riscv.org/
• RISC-V Training: Access official training and certification programs.
  • https://riscv.org/community/training/
• "Learn RISC-V": A community-driven GitHub repository with a massive list of learning resources.
  • https://github.com/riscv/learn
• RISC-V Ecosystem Landscape: List of all RISC-V projects, products, and contributing organizations.
  • https://landscape.riscv.org/
• RISC-V Developer Boards: Information on how to acquire free RV32/RV64 development boards for testing and projects.
  • https://riscv.org/developers/boards/

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Third party RISC-V Initiatives

• RISE Project (RISC-V Software Ecosystem): An initiative that works on ensuring software compatibility and reducing fragmentation across all RISC-V implementations.
  • https://riseproject.dev/
• PULP Platform: A research group (University of Bologna/ETH Zürich) developing RISC-V cores and full chip designs.
  • https://www.pulp-platform.org/
• DARE RISC-V: European initiative focusing on adopting RISC-V on HPC and AI.
  • https://dare-riscv.eu/

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General Open Source Tools

For CPU and Silicon Development (RTL and EDA)

• Verilator: An open source tool for Verilog/SystemVerilog simulator:
  • https://github.com/verilator/verilator
• Yosys: An open source framework for Verilog RTL synthesis.
  • https://github.com/YosysHQ/yosys
• OpenROAD Project: Fully automated and open source flow for generating physical chip layouts (RTL-to-GDS).
  • https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project
• KLayout: An open source EDA tool primarily for silicon layout viewing and editing.
  • https://www.klayout.de/
• OpenXC7: An open source FPGA toolchain specifically for AMD/Xilinx Series 7 chips.
  • https://github.com/openxc7
• zynq-mkbootimage: An open source replacement for the proprietary Xilinx bootgen app.
  • https://github.com/antmicro/zynq-mkbootimage

For Embedded Programming

• Zephyr Project: An open source Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) supporting over 750 embedded boards.
  • https://www.zephyrproject.org/
• Yocto Project: The Linux Foundation project that enables developers to create custom, tailored Linux distributions for embedded devices.
  • https://www.yoctoproject.org/
• VS Code (Visual Studio Code): An open source code editor widely used for cross-platform development.
  • https://code.visualstudio.com/

For Circuit Design

• KiCad: An open source EDA suite for PCB design and schematic creation.
  • https://www.kicad.org/
• Qucs-S: An open source circuit simulation software that is fully compatible with LTSpice.
  • https://ra3xdh.github.io/

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Chips, FPGA, devboards and other hardware

Here is listing only the hardware in active use by the team. For more, see boards section of official RISC-V Learn repository.

32-bit Microcontroller chips

• RP2350: A chip by Raspberry Pi containing two dual RISC-V (Hazard3) and ARM based cores.
• ESP32: Family of 32-bit MCU chips that support WiFi and BLE. We only use C3, C6 and P4 that are RISC-V based.

64-bit chips

• StarFive: Family of 64-bit RISC-V based SoCs capable of running Linux.
• ESWIN: Family of 64-bit RISC-V based SoCs with NPUs.
• SpacemIT K3: First RVA23 compilant RISC-V based SoC in the world.

FPGA chips

• GOWIN GW1NR: Family of low-cost FPGA chips.
• Xilinx Zinq 7020: A high performance FPGA chip with a built-in ARM core.

Development boards and other hardware

• DC-ROMA Mainboard I: First Framework laptop compatible RISC-V based motherboard developed by DeepComputing, containing StarFive JH7110 SoC.
• DC-ROMA Mainboard II: First AI-capable RISC-V Framework laptop mainboard, containing ESWIN EIC7702X.
• TANG NANO 9K: Low-cost FPGA by Sipeed containing GOWIN GW1NR 9K variant.
• Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and other RP2350 based boards: MCU boards containing RP2350 chips (both A and B variants).

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Community and Advocacy Organizations

Non-profits and foundations that work on broad open source software and hardware development globally.

• Linux Foundation: Supports Linux and numerous large-scale open source projects through governance and resources.
  • https://www.linuxfoundation.org/
• GNU Project: The original free software initiative that maintains the essential GNU toolchain and defines the concept of Free Software.
  • https://www.gnu.org
• Free Software Foundation Europe: European edition of FSF that promotes adoption of free and open source software all around the continent.
  • https://fsfe.org/
• Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA): Certifies open source hardware designs and promotes the free exchange of physical designs.
  • https://oshwa.org/
• Free Open Source Silicon Foundation (FOSSi Foundation): A non-profit dedicated to fostering the complete open sourcing of semiconductor technology.
  • https://fossi-foundation.org/
• Open Source Firmware Foundation: Supports the development and adoption of open source firmware solutions (e.g., BIOS/UEFI replacements).
  • https://opensourcefirmware.foundation/