emulator: RVVM
type: libretro
core_classification: official_port
source: "https://github.com/LekKit/RVVM"
upstream: "https://github.com/LekKit/RVVM"
profiled_date: "2026-03-25"
core_version: "0.6-git"
display_name: "RVVM"
cores: [rvvm]
systems: [riscv]

# RVVM emulates a RISC-V machine (rv64imafdcb or rv32ima). The libretro core
# loads a .rvvm plain-text config file specifying bootrom, kernel, nvme drives,
# memory, CPU mode, cmdline, and framebuffer resolution.
#
# The core does NOT use the RetroArch system directory. All firmware paths are
# specified in the .rvvm config file and resolved relative to its directory.
# The core chdir()s to the .rvvm file's parent before initializing the VM.
#
# The .rvvm config format (parsed by retro_load_game):
#   bootrom=/path/to/fw_payload.bin
#   kernel=/path/to/Image
#   nvme=/path/to/rootfs.img
#   mem=512
#   smp=2
#   rv64
#   cmdline=root=/dev/nvme0n1 rootflags=discard rw console=tty0
#
# The libretro binding uses an older RVVM API (rvvm_load_bootrom, 4-param
# rvvm_create_machine) that has been renamed in the current upstream
# (rvvm_load_firmware, 3-param rvvm_create_machine). The binding may not
# compile against RVVM HEAD without updates.

# Source references:
#   libretro binding:   src/bindings/libretro/libretro.c
#   config parsing:     libretro.c:332-421 (retro_load_game)
#   VM init + loading:  libretro.c:288-330 (vm_init)
#   firmware loading:   rvvm.c:621-628 (rvvm_load_firmware)
#   kernel loading:     rvvm.c:630-638 (rvvm_load_kernel)
#   FDT loading:        rvvm.c:641-648 (rvvm_load_fdt, standalone only)
#   standalone CLI:     main.c:213-282 (rvvm_cli_configure)

files:
  - name: "fw_payload.bin"
    path: "rvvm/fw_payload.bin"
    required: true
    source_ref: "libretro.c:309-314, rvvm.c:621-628"
    note: >
      M-mode firmware loaded at 0x80000000. Typically OpenSBI with U-Boot
      payload (fw_payload.bin) or standalone (fw_jump.bin). Referenced by
      the bootrom= key in the .rvvm config.

  - name: "Image"
    path: "rvvm/Image"
    required: false
    source_ref: "libretro.c:316-318, rvvm.c:630-638"
    note: >
      S-mode kernel payload loaded at offset 0x200000 (rv64) or 0x400000
      (rv32) from RAM base. Only needed with fw_jump.bin as bootrom.
      Referenced by the kernel= key in the .rvvm config.

  - name: "machine.dtb"
    path: "rvvm/machine.dtb"
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    source_ref: "main.c:230, rvvm.c:641-648"
    note: >
      Custom Flattened Device Tree. The core auto-generates a DTB based on
      machine configuration. The libretro binding does not parse a dtb= key
      in the .rvvm config, so this is only usable via the standalone CLI
      (-dtb flag).

notes:
  firmware_sources: >
    OpenSBI: https://github.com/riscv-software-src/opensbi/releases.
    Pre-built images for RVVM: https://github.com/LekKit/RVVM/wiki/Running
  info_firmware_count: >
    .info declares 0 firmware. Correct: the core loads firmware via
    user-specified paths in the .rvvm config, not from system_dir.