Solving Pre-silicon Kernel Upstream for RISC-V First Ever

Explore a groundbreaking approach to Linux kernel development in this 18-minute conference talk that demonstrates the first-ever pre-silicon kernel upstreaming for RISC-V architecture. Learn how to enable Linux kernel features before actual chip availability becomes possible, breaking away from the traditional approach of waiting for silicon to become available before beginning kernel support work. Discover the innovative methodology, specialized toolchains, and collaborative workflows that enable this revolutionary process, including the implementation of simulation platforms, pre-silicon verification environments, and CI/CD integration for early kernel testing. Understand how this pioneering approach accelerates software-hardware co-design, significantly reduces bring-up cycles, and ensures upstream-ready kernel code by the time silicon becomes available. Gain insights into the tools and processes used for validation and upstreaming without physical hardware, while exploring the lessons learned and best practices for effective collaboration with the open source community. Master the techniques that not only shorten time-to-market but also establish a new model for open source hardware-software collaboration within the RISC-V ecosystem.