Ubuntu has launched its first official desktop images for RISC-V architecture with the release of Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray," which runs on SpacemiT's K3 development board. Two experimental builds are available: a standard Ubuntu Desktop with GNOME and a minimal XFCE version, with the latter being more suitable for QEMU emulation due to longer loading times for GNOME. This release marks a significant advancement for RISC-V as a desktop platform, closing a gap that existed for years as hardware technology improved. Canonical is actively seeking bug reports from users as the images are still labeled experimental and support for various desktop components is ongoing

Ubuntu Ships First RISC-V Desktop Images on SpacemiT K3 Hardware

Ubuntu has released its first official RISC-V desktop images for Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray," bringing GNOME and XFCE experiences to riscv64 hardware. The experimental images run on SpacemiT's K3 development board, powered by the X100 core with official support arriving with the October 15 release. Two builds are available now on cdimage.ubuntu.com, though the XFCE minimal version is recommended for QEMU emulation since GNOME takes 30+ minutes to load. This milestone closes a years-long gap for RISC-V as a desktop architecture, following Canonical's RVA23 profile cutoff that forced the ecosystem toward faster silicon.

Ubuntu Ships First RISC-V Desktop Images on SpacemiT K3 Hardware @ Linux Compatible