http://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/Who really supports RISC-V, how far, where the images are, where the pitfalls areenSun, 01 Nov 2026 14:55:59 +0000Hugohttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/debian/distro:debianSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Debian is the only independent distro here that made riscv64 an official release architecture; separately there are Debian-based riscv64 systems such as deepin and RevyOS (not verified one by one). ｜ Based on IndependentDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/ubuntu/distro:ubuntuSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Ubuntu has the most detailed board support: it publishes preinstalled images per board, but 26.04 raised the bar to RVA23, leaving older boards stuck on 24.04 LTS. ｜ Based on DebianDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/fedora/distro:fedoraSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Fedora runs an official RISC-V SIG with continuous builds, but the project still labels riscv64 "not officially supported" and ships images through the alt channel. It works fine day to day; its support level is simply not the same as Debian or Ubuntu. ｜ Based on IndependentDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/fvf/distro:fvfSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800FVF is a RISC-V image rebuilt from Fedora sources by a separate team, not an official Fedora release. It covers more boards than the official SIG images, so it is the practical pick when you want a Fedora userland that boots out of the box. ｜ Based on FedoraDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/revyos/distro:revyosSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The de facto standard on TH1520 boards: LicheePi 4A and Milk-V Meles ship with RevyOS, and the official tutorials flash it too. The best first pick for newcomers, but note that the mirror is newer than the docs — take the latest date from the mirror directory. ｜ Based on Debian 13 (trixie) rootfs + XuanTie-customized 6.6 kernel (TH1520/SG2042 BSP); the older 20240720 build is Debian 12 + 5.10 kernelDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/bianbu/distro:bianbuSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The only system with an official desktop experience on K1/K3 boards (BPI-F3, Milk-V Jupiter, MUSE, Pico-ITX): GNOME/LXQt out of the box and complete documentation, making it the friendliest vendor distro for newcomers. ｜ Based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Bianbu 2.x, K1) / Ubuntu 25.04 (Bianbu 3.x, K1) / Ubuntu 26.04 (Bianbu 4.x, K3; per vendor forum, not stated per release in official docs) + vendor BSP kernel 6.6 LTS / 6.18Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/openeuler/distro:openeulerSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800An RISC-V base for server/enterprise use, moving fastest on RVA23 + Server Platform; unless you are validating server scenarios, RevyOS/Bianbu will save you trouble on a dev board. ｜ Based on openEuler 24.03 LTS (RPM/dnf, own repos) + RVCK 6.6 kernel; RISC-V ships as two separate builds, RVA20 and RVA23Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/openkylin/distro:openkylinSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The RISC-V branch of a domestic desktop OS, with board coverage split across versions (3.0 only knows K3/V100). Good for evaluating a domestic desktop stack, not as a daily driver on older TH1520/K1 boards. ｜ Based on Independent build (deb/APT + own repos, UKUI desktop); 3.0 uses a Linux 7.0 kernel, 2.0 SP2 is the long-term stable releaseDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/deepin/distro:deepinSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The best-looking domestic desktop distro, but its RISC-V branch is a community preview shipped as per-board tar.xz files — fine for evaluation, not recommended as your only daily system. ｜ Based on Debian-based + deepin's own repos (deepin 25 "crimson"); kernel 6.6/6.12/6.16 depending on board, mainline kernel on DP1000Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/armbian/distro:armbianSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The main reason domestic RISC-V boards are usable out of the box; look here first for newer boards like K3/BPI-F3. ｜ Based on Debian/Ubuntu (Armbian build framework)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/alpine/distro:alpineSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Alpine's riscv64 is a real architecture, but board coverage is narrow — there are only those five u-boot packages, so anything outside them means porting it yourself. ｜ Based on IndependentDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/arch/distro:archSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Arch's "official" here is only the port's own tested list, not official Arch support — the page should mark it as a community port. ｜ Based on Arch LinuxDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/opensuse/distro:opensuseSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800MicroOS is a riscv64 variant of the same project (there is a kvm-and-xen qcow2 image), not a downstream derivative. ｜ Based on IndependentDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/gentoo/distro:gentooSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Friendly to veterans, discouraging for beginners: complete docs but a fully manual install, good for people who want deep customization or an embedded rootfs. ｜ Based on Independent (built from source, OpenRC/systemd optional)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/nixos/distro:nixosSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Declarative config is nice, but riscv64 is in a "it runs, don't expect an easy ride" state. ｜ Based on Independent (Nix/nixpkgs, systemd)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/freebsd/distro:freebsdSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800If you want a proper Unix-like system with official images, FreeBSD is the most solid non-Linux option on RISC-V. ｜ Based on Independent (BSD, FreeBSD kernel + pkg)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/netbsd/distro:netbsdSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Smooth under QEMU; on real hardware it depends on whether you already have a working U-Boot. ｜ Based on Independent (BSD, NetBSD kernel + pkgsrc)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/openbsd/distro:openbsdSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Security-focused and minimal; the experience is most orthodox on an Unmatched, otherwise not a beginner's pick. ｜ Based on Independent (BSD, OpenBSD kernel + ports/packages)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/alt/distro:altSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800The most complete RISC-V support among Russian distros, with images that work out of the box; suited to QEMU and Unmatched users. ｜ Based on Independent (RPM/apt-rpm, ALT's own toolchain)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/buildroot/distro:buildrootSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Make it clear to newcomers: this is not a distro but a toolbox for building your own. ｜ Based on Built from source (BusyBox/glibc/musl + optional packages)Build systemhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/yocto/distro:yoctoSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Aimed at industrial/production use; hobbyists should start with Armbian or Buildroot instead. ｜ Based on Built from source (BitBake + oe-core + meta-riscv)Build systemhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/openruyi/distro:openruyiSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Mostly for vendor/ecosystem testing: it is officially positioned as early validation — surfacing firmware, platform-semantics and kernel interop problems early so vendors fork less. Regular users normally don't need it; for daily use pick a vendor distro such as Bianbu / RevyOS / openKylin, and try its QEMU image if you just want a zero-cost look. ｜ Based on Independent, self-built (RPM + dnf, rolling release); kernel 7.2.6 / LTS 6.18.54, toolchain GCC 16.2 with its own glibcDistributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/void/distro:voidSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Not usable for any RISC-V scenario right now; listed only to show that "small and fast" does not mean "has RISC-V". ｜ Based on Independent (XBPS + runit + musl/glibc)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/pld/distro:pldSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Treat it as "no RISC-V support"; mark it as unsupported on the portal rather than misleading readers. ｜ Based on Independent (RPM + poldek, Polish community distro)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/slackware/distro:slackwareSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Long-time Slackware users can try slarm64 to keep the habit alive on RISC-V; beginners should stay away. ｜ Based on Independent (pkgtools + slackpkg, BSD-style init)Distributionhttp://riscv-distros.org/en/distros/android/distro:androidSun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0800Only for experiments that check whether the Android framework boots on RISC-V — don't treat it as a usable system. ｜ Based on AOSP (Linux kernel + Android framework)Distribution