Running RISC-V in a VM to test my snaps
Hacker News
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Running RISC-V in a VM offers a practical workaround for testing software without physical hardware. The author, who maintains nearly 50 snaps in the Snap Store, faced the challenge of verifying their Notepad Next snap on riscv64 architecture. Without access to RISC-V hardware, they turned to QEMU to set up a virtual machine on their ThinkPad, successfully installing Ubuntu desktop and running basic tests—albeit slowly.
The article highlights the importance of RISC-V as an emerging technology, with its flexible instruction set architecture (ISA) profiles like RVA20 and RVA23. While RVA20 is supported by existing hardware, newer Ubuntu versions require RVA23 compliance, which is not yet widely available in commercial RISC-V boards. This creates a gap for developers looking to test software on the latest standards.
The author emphasizes the value of using QEMU as an immediate solution, avoiding costly hardware investments. They encountered minor hurdles with outdated QEMU versions but found Canonical’s documentation helpful. Their experience underscores the growing demand for testing across diverse architectures and the need for accessible tools like VMs in the absence of compliant hardware.
For tech enthusiasts and developers, this approach demonstrates how to bridge gaps between software development and hardware availability. As RISC-V continues to evolve, understanding these limitations and leveraging virtualization can save time and resources while maintaining progress on cross-architecture compatibility.
The broader significance lies in preparing for the future of computing. RISC-V’s flexibility positions it as a key player in edge computing and AI/ML workloads. By exploring VM-based testing, developers can stay ahead without waiting for hardware advancements. This method not only accelerates development but also highlights the importance of staying informed about evolving ISA standards.
In conclusion, the article provides a practical guide for developers seeking to test on RISC-V architectures without physical hardware. It serves as both a workaround and an insight into the challenges of modern software development, urging readers to adapt their testing strategies in line with technological advancements.
Verticals
techstartups
Originally published on Hacker News on 2/22/2026