First Test of Java on BeagleBoards (ARM and RISC-V)
Source: Dev.to
Introduction
As part of my 2026 learning goals around Java on RISC‑V (see my post about x86 versus ARM versus RISC‑V), I asked various suppliers for evaluation boards.
I’ve already published reviews of:
| Board | Architecture |
|---|---|
| LattePanda IOTA | x86 |
| OrangePi 5 Ultra | ARM |
| OrangePi RV2 | RISC‑V |
| VisionFive 2 Lite | RISC‑V |
| BeagleBoards (ARM and RISC‑V) | – |
I received all these boards for free, but the content I write here and show in the video is not controlled by StarFive or any other supplier.
ARM versus RISC‑V?
ARM and RISC‑V represent two different approaches to processor design.
| Feature | ARM | RISC‑V |
|---|---|---|
| Maturity | Established player (e.g., Raspberry Pi). Decades of ecosystem growth. | Newer, open‑source ISA. No licensing fees, fully transparent. |
| Performance & Tooling | Leads today. | Catching up fast. |
| Openness | Vendor‑locked ecosystem. | No vendor lock‑in; full visibility into hardware. |
| Flexibility | Limited to ARM’s roadmap. | Community‑driven extensions possible. |
The real difference isn’t just speed – it’s openness and flexibility. With RISC‑V you aren’t locked into a vendor’s ecosystem, and you can see exactly how your hardware works.
BeagleBoard Line‑up vs. Raspberry Pi
BeagleBoard offers a wide range of single‑board computers (SBCs) in Raspberry Pi‑like and Arduino‑like formats. Below is a comparison of the BeagleBoards I received with the latest Raspberry Pi models.
| Board | SoC | Architecture | CPU | Cores | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | BCM2711 | ARMv8 | Cortex‑A72 | 4 | 1.8 GHz | €68 (4 GB) |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | BCM2712 | ARMv8 | Cortex‑A76 | 4 | 2.4 GHz | €79 (4 GB) |
| BeagleY‑AI | Texas AM67A | ARM | Cortex‑A53 | 4 | 1.4 GHz | $73 |
| BeagleV‑Fire | RISC‑V + FPGA | RISC‑V | 1 + 4 (CPU + FPGA) | – | – | $149 |
| BeagleV‑Ahead | Alibaba TH1520 | RISC‑V | – | 4 | 2 GHz | $149 |
| PocketBeagle 2 | ARM | ARM | Cortex‑A53 | 4 | 1.4 GHz | $29 |
Boards I Received
BeagleY®‑AI
Low‑cost, open‑source, community‑supported development platform.
- Form‑factor compatible with accessories for other popular SBCs.
- Comes with Debian Linux images, a built‑in development environment, and a dedicated 4 TOPS AI co‑processor plus an 800 MHz microcontroller for real‑time I/O.
- Ideal for professional developers, classrooms, and hobbyists.
Resources
- [Product page]
- [Documentation]
BeagleV®‑Fire
A revolutionary SBC powered by Microchip’s PolarFire® MPFS025T 5‑core RISC‑V SoC with FPGA fabric.
- Same P8 & P9 cape header pins as BeagleBone Black → stack your favorite BeagleBone cape.
- Combines the energy‑efficient RISC‑V ISA with versatile FPGA fabric, opening new horizons for developers and the open‑source community.
Resources
- [Product page]
- [Documentation]
BeagleV®‑Ahead
Open‑source RISC‑V SBC with BeagleBone Black cape header pins.
- Quad‑core RISC‑V processor.
- Pocket‑size, affordable platform for anyone wanting to dive deep into the RISC‑V ISA.
Resources
- [Product page]
- [Documentation]
PocketBeagle 2
An upgraded, ultra‑compact, low‑cost SBC.
- Targets developers, students, and hobbyists.
- Retains the simplicity of the original PocketBeagle while delivering enhanced performance and expanded features.
- Perfect for IoT devices, robotics, and educational applications.
Resources
- [Product page]
- [Documentation]
Getting Started with BeagleBoard
The easiest way to flash the latest OS onto a BeagleBoard is the BeagleBoard Imaging Utility (available for Windows, macOS, and Linux). It is comparable to the Raspberry Pi Imager Tool and is a crucial factor for newcomers.
My Experience
- Imaging – Used the Imaging Utility to create an SD card with the latest OS, setting my desired username and password.
- Boot – Inserted the card, connected via micro‑HDMI and USB, and booted into a desktop environment within minutes.
- Update – Ran a standard
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade. - Java Setup – Installed SDKMAN, Java (Azul Zulu 25.0.2 with JavaFX support), and JBang.
curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash
source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"
sdk install java 25.0.1-zulu-fx
git clone https://github.com/Pi4J/pi4j-jbang.git- Verification – The JavaFX test application from the Pi4J JBang repository ran flawlessly, confirming that both Java and JavaFX work perfectly on this ARM‑based board.
The BeagleY‑AI delivered the smoothest experience of all four BeagleBoards. Its connector placement is very similar to the Raspberry Pi 5, making it an excellent choice for Java development.
Challenges
The BeagleV‑Fire proved challenging due to my Raspberry Pi habits. I initially created an SD card using the Imaging Utility, but the RISC‑V boot process required additional steps (e.g., configuring U‑boot and device tree overlays). I’ll detail those steps in a follow‑up post.
All impressions are my own; no supplier influenced the content.
BeagleV‑Fire
- Current situation – The board ships with Ubuntu 23.04 pre‑installed on its eMMC.
- Problem – Ubuntu 23.04 is EOL, so the package manager cannot update the system or install Java.
- Solution –
- Connect the board to a host PC via USB.
- Use the Imaging Utility in Device Mode to flash a newer Ubuntu image directly onto the eMMC.
- After flashing, install Java with the normal package manager (
apt install default-jdkor similar).
Note: Default login credentials are
beagle:temppwd.
Java compatibility – RISC‑V builds of Java exist and should work once the OS is updated, but the OS upgrade must be completed first.
BeagleV‑Ahead
- Power – Requires a 5 V barrel‑jack connector (no USB‑C power).
- Access – Connected via SSH over the network.
- OS – Runs a custom Linux distribution that is not recognisable as Debian/Ubuntu.
- Package manager –
aptis unavailable, preventing standard Java installation.
Next steps
- Review the board’s documentation to identify the underlying distribution.
- Determine the appropriate package manager (e.g.,
opkg,dnf,yum, or a proprietary tool). - Locate or build a Java RISC‑V binary compatible with that distribution.
Note: Default login is
rootwith no password.
BeagleY‑AI (tiny ARM‑based board)
- Processor – Cortex‑A53 (same as the BeagleY‑AI).
- Java – ARM Java distributions are readily available; the board should run Java without issues.
Features
- Tech Lab kit with buttons and RGB LEDs that mount directly on top of the board.
- Ideal for coding clubs and educational settings that combine programming with physical‑computing experiments.
Personal experience
“My congratulations to BeagleBoard for their documentation website and Imaging Utility! That really sets them apart from other single‑board computer suppliers I tested before. Java on BeagleY‑AI runs within minutes of starting my tests, and I’m confident I’ll be able to use it for further experiments.”
Action Items & Goals for 2026
| Board | Current Status | Required Action |
|---|---|---|
| BeagleV‑Fire | Running outdated Ubuntu 23.04 | Flash newer Ubuntu image via Imaging Utility |
| BeagleV‑Ahead | Custom Linux, no apt | Identify distro, find appropriate package manager |
| BeagleY‑AI | Ready for Java (ARM) | Begin hands‑on Java projects with Tech Lab kit |
2026 Goal:
“Learn more about different types of single‑board computers.”
With more than 10 months left in the year, I’ll allocate time to complete the OS upgrade on the BeagleV‑Fire, uncover the Linux variant on the BeagleV‑Ahead, and start Java experiments on the BeagleY‑AI.
Technical Details
commit-id: 52fbe8443ea11d7e0abf958a8e2a202d67ef40c1
https://occ.t-head.cn/All original content has been retained; formatting has been improved for clarity.