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Intel seems to have quietly met its death open-source RISC-V developer environment, Pathfinder.
The news may come as a shock to many SoC architects, software developers and product research teams, especially since Pathfinder was only announced in August 2022, but to others it may have been an expected move.
The company reported a catastrophic end to 2022, with the fourth quarter alone accounting for $661 million in losses, and has pulled the plug on some of its other businesses. In addition, 544 of California-based workers are at risk of layoffs, with more layoffs possible worldwide as the company prepares for what it calls a “meaningful number” of job cuts.
Intel Path Finder
The 2022 press release revealing Pathfinder details the number of RISC-V-focused initiatives that have rolled out over the years, indicating Intel’s commitment, but just months later, users began reporting that it had been dropped.
Intel has been since then website (opens in new tab) with a statement that reads:
“We regret to inform you that Intel is discontinuing the Intel Pathfinder for RISC-V program effective immediately.”
The webpage directs users to “immediate transition” to alternative RISC-V software tools, highlighting that bug fixes have also been discontinued.
The program was designed to help users develop RISC-V chips using industry standard toolchains and as such was supported by a number of RISC-V companies. It was split into a Professional Edition and a more stripped-down Starter Edition for hobbyists who wanted to give it a try.
Vijay Krishnan remained general manager for RISC-V ventures with the company for more than a year and a half until it closed its doors this month, taking on a new role as general manager for new initiatives, signaling that Intel is turning its back on RISC-V V operations for now.
Tech Radar Pro asked Intel to confirm its decision to discontinue the Pathfinder program and whether it plans to continue investing in RISC-V going forward.