What is an SPMC on ARM?

SPMC (Secure Partition Manager Client) runs at S-EL2 in ARM's Secure world, managing Secure Partitions like mini-VMs isolated from the Normal world OS.

Can Rust really replace C in hypervisors?

Yes— this 30K-line no_std Rust SPMC boots Linux, passes FF-A tests alongside pKVM, proving Rust's safety and leanness crush C's bloat for secure low-level code.

How do pKVM and SPMC coexist on one SoC?

They split EL2 realms (NS-EL2 vs S-EL2), relay via TF-A at EL3 using FF-A protocol—messages cross worlds with four EL hops per round trip.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Rust Hypervisor Conquers ARM's Secure World: 30K Lines Dethrone Hafnium's 200K C Bloat

Forget the C monolith. One dev just rebuilt ARM's secure hypervisor in Rust—30,000 lines versus Hafnium's bloated 200K—and made it play nice with Android's pKVM on one chip. This isn't just a rewrite; it's a safety revolution sneaking into tomorrow's devices.

theAIcatchup Apr 09, 2026 4 min read

Diagram of ARM dual hypervisors on one SoC: pKVM in Normal world, Rust SPMC in Secure world

⚡ Key Takeaways

A 30K-line Rust SPMC replaces Hafnium's 200K C lines, booting Linux and Secure Partitions flawlessly. 𝕏
Dual hypervisors (pKVM + Rust) coexist on one ARM SoC via FF-A, passing 35 rigorous tests. 𝕏
Rust's memory safety poised to revolutionize secure enclaves in phones and AI edge devices. 𝕏

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theAIcatchup

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#ARM S-EL2 #ARM SPMC #FF-A protocol #Hafnium replacement #Rust hypervisor #pKVM coexistence

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Originally reported by Dev.to

⚡ Key Takeaways

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