# OpenSBI

> Open Source, free software implementation of RISC-V SBI

**Wikidata**: [Q131406362](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131406362)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/opensbi

## Summary
OpenSBI is an open-source, free software implementation of the RISC-V Supervisor Binary Interface (SBI), serving as firmware that provides low-level control for RISC-V hardware systems. It establishes standardized communication protocols between supervisor mode software and machine-mode firmware in RISC-V systems.

## Key Facts
- OpenSBI is licensed under the 2-clause BSD License, allowing for broad use and modification.
- The project was first released on January 30, 2019, with version 0.1, with the stable version 1.0 released on December 24, 2021.
- It is developed by Western Digital and RISC-V International, demonstrating industry backing.
- OpenSBI is available as a package in Debian stable and in the Arch User Repository (AUR) as "opensbi".
- The source code is hosted at https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi.
- It has official documentation available at https://riscv.atlassian.net/browse/RVG-11.
- The project has Wikipedia editions in French (fr) and Chinese (zh).
- OpenSBI is categorized as firmware, which provides low-level control for specific hardware devices.

## FAQs
### Q: What is OpenSBI?
A: OpenSBI is an open-source, free software implementation of the RISC-V Supervisor Binary Interface (SBI). It acts as firmware that facilitates communication between supervisor mode software and machine-mode firmware in RISC-V systems.

### Q: Who develops OpenSBI?
A: OpenSBI is developed by Western Digital and RISC-V International, with the project's source code available on GitHub for community contributions.

### Q: What license governs OpenSBI?
A: OpenSBI is licensed under the 2-clause BSD License, which permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.

### Q: When was OpenSBI first released?
A: OpenSBI was first released on January 30, 2019, with version 0.1, with regular updates including the significant 1.0 release on December 24, 2021.

## Why It Matters
OpenSBI serves as a critical foundation for the RISC-V ecosystem by providing a standardized implementation of the Supervisor Binary Interface. This specification enables consistent communication between operating systems and firmware across different RISC-V hardware implementations, addressing a key challenge in RISC-V adoption. By offering an open-source, BSD-licensed implementation, OpenSBI lowers barriers to entry for RISC-V hardware developers and software stack implementers, fostering innovation and interoperability in the growing RISC-V community. Its development by major industry players ensures broad acceptance and compatibility across the RISC-V landscape.

## Notable For
- Being the first widely adopted open-source implementation of the RISC-V SBI specification
- Development and sponsorship by industry leaders Western Digital and RISC-V International
- Implementation under the permissive 2-clause BSD license encouraging broad adoption
- Integration into multiple major Linux distribution package repositories
- Regular release cycle with continued development and version updates since 2019

## Body
### Overview
OpenSBI is an open-source firmware project that implements the RISC-V Supervisor Binary Interface (SBI). The SBI specification defines standard methods for communication between supervisor mode software (like operating systems) and machine-mode firmware (bootloaders, runtime services) in RISC-V systems.

### Development
The project is actively developed by Western Digital and RISC-V International, with source code hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi. The project follows a versioned release cycle, with documentation and issue tracking available through RISC-V International's Jira instance.

### Licensing
OpenSBI is released under the 2-clause BSD License, which permits free use, modification, and redistribution. This permissive license has been instrumental in its widespread adoption across RISC-V platforms and distributions.

### Versions
- v0.1 (January 30, 2019): Initial stable release
- v0.2 (February 26, 2019): Early maintenance release
- v0.3 (February 26, 2019): Additional improvements
- v0.4 (July 2, 2019): Feature and bugfix release
- v0.5 (October 9, 2019): Stability improvements
- v0.6 (February 24, 2020): Major update
- v0.7 (April 20, 2020): Additional functionality
- v0.8 (June 20, 2020): Performance and compatibility updates
- v0.9 (January 18, 2021): Significant feature additions
- v1.0 (December 24, 2021): Major milestone release

### Distribution
OpenSBI is packaged for multiple Linux distributions, including Debian stable (package name "opensbi") and the Arch Linux User Repository (AUR) as "opensbi". This broad distribution ensures easy accessibility for developers and system integrators.

### Documentation and Resources
The project maintains documentation and issue tracking through the RISC-V International Jira instance. The official logo is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/RISC−V_OpenSBI_logo.png, and the project has Wikipedia documentation in French and Chinese languages.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi)
2. [Source](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/blob/76d7e9b8ee72c226cd8424d5483827bcf4c792fa/README.md)
3. [Release 0.1. 2019](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.1)
4. [Release 0.2. 2019](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.2)
5. [Release 0.3. 2019](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.3)
6. [Release 0.4. 2019](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.4)
7. [Release 0.5. 2019](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.5)
8. [Release 0.6. 2020](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.6)
9. [Release 0.7. 2020](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.7)
10. [Release 0.8. 2020](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.8)
11. [Release 0.9. 2021](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v0.9)
12. [Release 1.0. 2021](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.0)
13. [Release 1.1. 2022](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.1)
14. [Release 1.2. 2022](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.2)
15. [Release 1.3. 2023](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.3)
16. [Release 1.3.1. 2023](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.3.1)
17. [Release 1.4. 2023](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.4)
18. [Release 1.5. 2024](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.5)
19. [Release 1.5.1. 2024](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.5.1)
20. [Release 1.6. 2024](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.6)
21. [Release 1.7. 2025](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.7)
22. [Release 1.8. 2025](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.8)
23. [Release 1.8.1. 2026](https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases/tag/v1.8.1)
24. [Source](https://riscv.org/riscv-news/2019/01/risc-v-community-releases-opensbi-to-foster-continued-ecosystem-growth/)
25. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/riscv-software-src/opensbi)