2026-05-29 –, Mistral
Learn about the meta-riscv layer, its achievements, its lessons learned, its limitations and how you can help.
The RISC-V architecture is now officially supported by the Yocto project, but like on most other architectures, OpenEmbedded Core only supports emulated QEMU targets. Support for real hardware boards is brought by the "meta-riscv" layer.
Since his first contributions to the layer in October 2025, Michael Opdenacker has contributed to the addition of new boards, expanding or updating support for existing ones, and seen similar contributions from others too.
This talk will cover the current status of "meta-riscv" in terms of board support, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned maintaining a layer supporting different SoCs at the same time (unlike what happens in the ARM world). It will also highlight multiple areas in which further contributions are needed.
Even though the layer was created in 2017, it can still be considered as young, as it targets a booming hardware architecture, and offers many opportunities to get involved, for all levels of experience. In particular, if you have never contributed to Yocto, it's a perfect place to get started. New code doesn't have to be perfect to be accepted, and what matters is to make progress together.
Michael Opdenacker is a consultant and trainer specializing in embedded Linux, working at Root Commit (https://rootcommit.com). He helps customers with their OpenEmbedded/Yocto-based projects and makes it easier for them to climb the learning curve (check out his free learning materials at https://rootcommit.com/training/yocto/).
Michael is also a contributor to OpenEmbedded and the Yocto Project, and has spoken about Yocto and embedded Linux at multiple Yocto events and at international conferences. Most of his recent talks are about his favorite build system!