Embedded & Open Source Rockchip RK3588 No Longer "Open Source" — What It Means for SBC Community
On December 21, 2024, Jeff Geerling — the most influential reviewer in the Raspberry Pi alternative space — dropped a bombshell on X (formerly Twitter):
“I was told Rockchip no longer considers RK3588 to be an ‘open source’ chip. In practice, that means Rockchip no longer contributes RK3588 code to open-source projects and they also decided not to sell RK3588 directly to SBC vendors.”
That post, cross-posted to Mastodon, quickly racked up 430+ likes and was picked up by CNX Software, Tux Machines, and countless Hacker News and Reddit threads. For the SBC community that had come to rely on the RK3588 as the go-to high-performance ARM platform, this was a watershed moment — one that exposed the fragility of depending on a single chip vendor’s goodwill for open-source support.
What Is the RK3588 and Why Does It Matter?
Core Specifications
The Rockchip RK3588 is a high-performance ARM SoC fabricated on an 8nm process, officially launched in 2022. Here are the key specs:
| Module | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core: 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz + 4× Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
| GPU | ARM Mali-G610 MP4 (OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan 1.2) |
| NPU | 6 TOPS @ INT8 (supports INT4/INT8/INT16/FP16) |
| Memory | Dual-channel LPDDR4X/LPDDR5, up to 32GB |
| Video Decode | 8K@60fps H.265, 8K@60fps VP9, 8K@30fps H.264 |
| Video Encode | 8K@30fps H.265, 8K@30fps H.264 |
| PCIe | PCIe 3.0 (up to 4 lanes) |
| Display | Dual HDMI 2.1 (8K@60), dual MIPI DSI/DP, eDP |
Why the RK3588 Became the SBC Community’s Darling
Before the RK3588, the high-performance ARM SBC market was a desert. The Raspberry Pi 4 was popular but its Broadcom BCM2711 couldn’t keep up with demanding workloads. The RK3588 filled that void perfectly:
- 8 CPU cores delivering performance approaching entry-level x86 desktops
- 6 TOPS NPU making it ideal for edge AI inference
- 8K video codecs for media center and digital signage applications
- PCIe 3.0 enabling NVMe SSD storage
- Accessible pricing ($70–$160) within reach of individual developers and small teams
If you’re building embedded Linux systems on ARM boards, the workflow we covered in our Getting Started with Embedded Linux: Running Buildroot on Allwinner H616 guide is exactly the kind of work that becomes much harder without vendor BSP support.
Popular RK3588-Based Development Boards
| Board | Manufacturer | RAM Options | Key Features | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radxa ROCK 5B | Radxa | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | M.2 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x4), 2.5GbE, dual HDMI, WiFi 6/BT 5.0 | $80–$160 |
| Orange Pi 5 | Xunlong | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | M.2 NVMe, GbE, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.0 | $70–$140 |
| Orange Pi 5 Plus | Xunlong | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | Dual 2.5GbE, dual HDMI 2.1, M.2 PCIe, 40-pin GPIO | $80–$160 |
| Orange Pi 5 Pro | Xunlong | 8/16GB LPDDR5 | M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE, HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6 | $90–$150 |
| NanoPC-T6 | FriendlyElec | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | M.2 NVMe, dual 2.5GbE, HDMI 2.1, DC barrel jack | $80–$160 |
| Turing Pi RK1 | Turing Machines | 8/16/32GB LPDDR5 | Mini-ITX, M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE, cluster-ready | $150–$300 |
| Indiedroid Nova | Indiedroid | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | Micro HDMI, M.2 NVMe, GbE, compact | $70–$130 |
| Khadas Edge2 | Khadas | 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X | Ultra-compact, M.2 NVMe, USB-C DP Alt Mode | $100–$180 |
| Banana Pi BPI-M7 | SinoVoip | 8/16GB LPDDR5 | M.2 NVMe, dual 2.5GbE, HDMI 2.1 | $80–$140 |
| ArmSoM Sige7 | ArmSoM | 8/16GB LPDDR4X | M.2 NVMe, dual 2.5GbE, compact | $80–$150 |
Note: The RK3588S is a slightly cut-down variant with fewer PCIe lanes and display outputs, used in boards like the original Orange Pi 5 and Radxa ROCK 5A.
What Does “Open Source Chip” Actually Mean?
Before we can understand the impact of Rockchip’s decision, we need to unpack what “open source” means in the SBC context. It’s not about the silicon itself — it’s about the software ecosystem that makes the hardware usable.
BSP (Board Support Package)
A BSP is the collection of software that makes an SBC actually run an operating system:
- Bootloader (e.g., U-Boot): initializes hardware and loads the OS
- Kernel patches: SoC-specific modifications to the Linux kernel
- Device Tree: configuration files describing the hardware layout
- Drivers: GPU, NPU, video codecs, WiFi, and other peripheral drivers
Why BSP Quality Matters
Without a BSP, an SBC is just an expensive coaster. BSP quality directly determines:
- System stability — good BSP means fewer crashes and better performance
- Kernel updates — ongoing BSP maintenance keeps the board current with Linux releases
- Security — timely security patches for vulnerabilities
- Feature completeness — GPU acceleration, video codec support, NPU inference
What Rockchip Was Doing Before
Rockchip had been considered relatively “open source friendly” among ARM SoC vendors:
- Contributed RK3588 support code to mainline Linux
- Released open-source Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A), merged in v2.12
- Collaborated with companies like Collabora on upstream support
- Engineers like Andy Yan contributed VOP display controller support in Linux 6.8
This cooperation had brought the RK3588’s boot chain to nearly full openness — the only remaining closed-source binary was the DDR memory training firmware.
What Rockchip’s Decision Actually Means
According to CNX Software’s reporting (citing “trustee third parties”), Rockchip made two changes:
1. Stopped Contributing RK3588 Code to Open-Source Projects
This means:
- No new kernel patches submitted to mainline Linux from Rockchip
- No open-source GPU, NPU, or driver updates from the vendor
- Existing open-source code remains available but won’t receive Rockchip’s official maintenance
2. Stopped Selling RK3588 Chips Directly to SBC Vendors
This means:
- SBC manufacturers must source chips through resellers, potentially increasing costs
- New product development may be constrained
- Supply chains for existing products could be affected
The Alleged Cause: Ukraine Drone Connection
CNX Software reported a possible trigger:
“A few months ago, reports on social media indicated drones using RK3588 SBCs were used in the military conflict in Ukraine. Rockchip management allegedly freaked out due to the risk of sanctions and first banned one SBC vendor, before eventually simply exiting this side of the business.”
Important caveat: This account comes from “trustee third parties” and is speculative. Rockchip has never issued an official public statement confirming or denying these claims. SBC sales likely represent a tiny fraction of Rockchip’s overall business — they may have simply decided the risk wasn’t worth the revenue.
Practical Impact on Developers
1. Kernel Update Support
Current state: Companies like Collabora are still advancing RK3588 mainline Linux support. Here’s what was achieved in 2024:
| Linux Kernel | Feature Added |
|---|---|
| 6.7 | Network support on Radxa ROCK 5B (2.5GbE via PCIe) |
| 6.8 | First USB3 controller; basic VOP display controller |
| 6.9 | HDMI PHY initial support |
| 6.10 | Mali-G610 GPU 3D acceleration; all USB ports; DisplayPort PHY |
| 6.11 | CPU frequency scaling (including RK3588J industrial variant) |
| 6.12 | RGA2 2D graphics; VEPU121 JPEG encoding; VDPU121 VP8/MPEG2/H264 decode |
| 6.13 | HDMI display output |
Planned for 2025:
- HDMI audio and CEC support
- HDMI input (V4L2 driver)
- MIPI DSI support (targeting Linux 6.14)
- VDPU381 H264 support
- NPU driver — a surprise in late 2024: Tomeu Vizoso submitted an initial fully open-source kernel and Mesa driver based on reverse-engineered information
Impact: While Rockchip is no longer contributing, Collabora’s commercial interests (providing RK3588 support services to OEM customers) keep the upstream work going. However, losing direct chip vendor support means:
- New feature upstreaming may slow down
- Hardware documentation for some features may be incomplete
- Bug fix response times may increase
Understanding Linux kernel driver development is becoming increasingly valuable as the community takes on more of this maintenance burden.
2. GPU/NPU Drivers
GPU: The Mali-G610’s 3D acceleration landed in Linux 6.10, thanks to Collabora’s team. But with Rockchip no longer contributing:
- Performance optimizations may slow
- New OpenGL/Vulkan feature support could be delayed
- Bug fixes depend on community reverse engineering
NPU: The RK3588’s 6 TOPS NPU is one of its headline features, but open-source support has been challenging. The reverse-engineered driver from late 2024 is a breakthrough, but:
- Reverse-engineered drivers may be unstable
- Lack of official documentation means some features may be unreachable
- Compatibility with Rockchip’s official RKNN SDK remains uncertain
3. Security Patches
This is the most overlooked but most critical impact:
- Linux kernel vulnerabilities need continuous patching
- Without chip vendor support, security patch adaptation may lag
- For production deployments, this is a serious risk factor
The Community Maintainer Crisis: Ubuntu Rockchip as a Warning
Before Rockchip’s “closed source” decision, another related event had already sounded the alarm.
Joshua Riek’s Departure
In November 2024, Joshua Riek — maintainer of Ubuntu Rockchip, the most popular Rockchip Linux distribution — announced he was stepping away due to burnout.
Jeff Geerling wrote in his November 12, 2024 blog post:
“Basically, Rockchip, a company valued in the billions of dollars, can’t be bothered to help SBC makers like Turing Pi with an official Linux distribution, so Turing Pi turned to Joshua’s project and actually worked with him to try to get their hardware working better with it.”
“But from what I’ve heard, some other vendors — and I’m guessing a lot of individuals in the community — didn’t treat Joshua with the respect that he deserves or with financial support in return for the help that he gave.”
The result:
- The ubuntu-rockchip GitHub repository was archived on April 29, 2026 (now read-only)
- No more kernel updates — only nightly package builds
- Manufacturers like Turing Pi, who had built their official images on top of Ubuntu Rockchip, were left scrambling
This episode exposed the “maker-taker problem” in the SBC ecosystem: billion-dollar chip vendors won’t invest in supporting SBC makers, instead relying on unpaid community maintainers. When those maintainers burn out, the entire ecosystem suffers.
Alternative SBC Options
Raspberry Pi 5: The Gold Standard for Open Source Support
Released: October 2023 SoC: Broadcom BCM2712 CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz GPU: VideoCore VII @ 800MHz (OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2) RAM: 1/2/4/8/16GB LPDDR4X-4267 Price: $40–$80
Open source advantages:
- VideoCore VII has fully open-source Mesa drivers (V3D driver)
- Raspberry Pi Foundation actively contributes to mainline Linux
- Excellent mainline kernel support (most features upstreamed)
- Massive community, extensive documentation
- Official Raspberry Pi OS (Debian-based) with long-term support
- No NPU, but GPU drivers are fully open and well-maintained
Performance comparison: The RK3588 is roughly 3× faster than Pi 5 in CPU benchmarks (8 cores vs 4), has a more powerful GPU, a dedicated NPU, and better I/O. But Pi 5 has dramatically better software support. If you’ve ever built QT6 from source on a Raspberry Pi, you know how much smoother the experience is compared to lesser-supported boards.
Allwinner A733/A838: The Emerging Alternative
Per CNX Software:
“I was told that Allwinner was now back to the ‘open-source market’ with the A733 and upcoming A838 octa-core Cortex-A78/A55 SoCs.”
- Olimex is planning to update its open-source DIY laptop with Allwinner
- Several companies showing interest in A733 boards
- At least one company “appears ready to completely drop RK3588 from their offerings even though the A733 is not quite as fast”
- Software support needs work, but Allwinner is reportedly more cooperative with open source
For those interested in truly open architectures, RISC-V is also worth watching as a fully open-source alternative to ARM.
NVIDIA Jetson Series: Best for AI Workloads
- Jetson Orin Nano/NX/AGX — excellent CUDA support, well-maintained BSP
- Much more expensive ($199–$1,999)
- Better suited for AI/ML workloads
- NVIDIA contributes to mainline Linux (Tegra drivers)
- Still requires closed-source GPU driver for full performance
We covered the Jetson ecosystem in detail in our Jetson Nano Configuration Guide.
Other Options
- Qualcomm-based boards (e.g., Thundercomm) — good mainline support for some chips
- MediaTek Genio — Collabora also working on upstream support (HDMI 2.0 enabled as of August 2026)
- NXP i.MX8 — industrial-grade, good mainline support, but less powerful
Alternative Comparison Table
| Option | CPU Perf. | GPU Open Source | NPU | Price | Community | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK3588 | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 6 TOPS (reverse-eng.) | $70–$160 | Large | High-perf computing, edge AI (at risk) |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | None | $40–$80 | Massive | General dev, learning, production |
| Allwinner A733 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | TBD | TBD | Small | Open-source-first projects |
| Jetson Orin | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | CUDA mature | $199+ | Medium | AI/ML professional apps |
| NXP i.MX8 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | None | $50–$200 | Medium | Industrial, long-term support |
Advice for Developers
If You’re Already Using RK3588
- Don’t panic. Existing boards still work fine. The open-source community (Collabora, Armbian) is still advancing support.
- Track mainline Linux progress. Follow Collabora’s blog and Linux kernel release notes.
- Evaluate long-term maintenance. For production deployments, assess whether security patches arrive in time.
- Participate in the community. Join Armbian, Ubuntu Rockchip discussions — contribute test reports or code.
- Back up your working environment. Ensure your development setup is reproducible in case your distro of choice stops being maintained.
If You’re Choosing a New SBC
-
Clarify your priorities:
- Performance first? RK3588 is still the strongest option, but be prepared for software friction.
- Stability first? Raspberry Pi 5 is the safest choice.
- AI workloads? Consider Jetson or wait for the RK3588 NPU open-source driver to mature.
-
Evaluate the software ecosystem:
- Check whether features you need are supported in mainline Linux
- Check the distro’s maintenance status and update frequency
- Understand community size and activity level
-
Consider the supply chain:
- Rockchip no longer selling directly may affect new product availability
- Monitor vendors’ stock levels and future product roadmaps
If You Want to Help Improve the Situation
- Contribute code. Learn Linux kernel driver development and contribute to RK3588 upstream support.
- Test and report. Help test new kernel versions, report bugs with detailed reproduction steps.
- Document. Write and translate documentation for RK3588 boards.
- Financially support. Donate to Armbian, Collabora, and similar projects.
- Spread awareness. Help others understand the sustainability challenges in the SBC ecosystem.
Community Reaction and Future Outlook
What the Community Is Saying
Discussions on Reddit (r/linux, r/SBCs, r/OrangePI) and Hacker News reflect complex emotions:
- Frustration at Rockchip’s decision and reflection on single-vendor dependency
- Gratitude for organizations like Collabora and Armbian continuing the work
- Pragmatism about the commercial realities — chip vendors’ primary customers aren’t hobbyists
- Action as some developers begin migrating to Raspberry Pi 5 or Allwinner platforms
Key Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2020 | RK3588 first teased by Rockchip |
| 2022 | First RK3588 SBCs introduced (ROCK 5B, Orange Pi 5, etc.) |
| Oct 2023 | Raspberry Pi 5 released |
| Late 2024 (Sep–Oct) | Reports of RK3588 drones in Ukraine conflict surface |
| Nov 2024 | Joshua Riek announces stepping away from Ubuntu Rockchip |
| Nov 12, 2024 | Jeff Geerling publishes blog post about Ubuntu Rockchip situation |
| Dec 20, 2024 | Collabora publishes RK3588 upstream progress report |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Jeff Geerling tweets about Rockchip “no longer open source” |
| Dec 21, 2024 | CNX Software publishes detailed article with Ukraine drone connection |
| Jan 2025 | Linux 6.13 released with HDMI display support for RK3588 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | ubuntu-rockchip GitHub repository archived |
The Bigger Picture
The RK3588 controversy exposes structural problems in the SBC ecosystem:
- Open source fragility — even “open source friendly” hardware can lose support overnight based on a chip vendor’s business decision
- Community maintainer burden — unpaid volunteers shouldn’t be the ecosystem’s only支撑
- Transparency matters — chip vendors’ open-source commitments need clearer guarantees and mechanisms
- Diversification is necessary — depending on a single chip vendor is dangerous; the ecosystem needs more open-source-friendly alternatives
Conclusion
Rockchip’s decision to no longer treat the RK3588 as an “open source” chip is a turning point for the SBC community. It affects not just the current multi-million-dollar development board market, but raises fundamental questions about the sustainability of the entire ecosystem.
For developers, the practical takeaways are:
- The RK3588 remains one of the most powerful SBCs available, but software support uncertainty has increased
- The Raspberry Pi 5 is the safest open-source choice, though it can’t match RK3588’s raw performance
- Community effort matters more than ever — the continued work of Collabora, Armbian, and others will determine the RK3588’s future
This event also reminds us that in the open-source hardware world, “open source” means more than just hardware designs — it encompasses the entire software ecosystem’s ongoing maintenance and support. When we choose a development board, we’re not just selecting hardware specs; we’re choosing an ecosystem’s future.
For makers and embedded developers, staying informed, participating in communities, and diversifying your platform choices are the best strategies for navigating this uncertainty. After all, the core spirit of open source is collaboration and sharing — only when the entire community works together can we build a truly sustainable open-source hardware ecosystem.
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