ARM support

The ARM architecture is a family of RISC-based processor designs developed with a focus on simplicity, power efficiency, and performance. Originally created by Acorn Computers in the 1980s and later developed by ARM Holdings, it gained popularity for embedded systems and mobile devices due to its low power consumption and compact design.

ARM uses a load/store model where only specific instructions move data between memory and registers, allowing for streamlined instruction execution. The architecture is known for its consistent, fixed-length instructions in early versions, with later versions supporting a mix of 16-bit and 32-bit instructions through the Thumb and Thumb-2 extensions, optimizing both performance and code density.

One of ARM’s key characteristics is its modular design. The architecture is licensed by ARM Holdings to other manufacturers, who can customize implementations with optional features like floating-point units, vector processing, or security extensions. This approach has led to a wide range of processors—from tiny microcontrollers to high-performance cores in smartphones and servers—all sharing a common instruction set architecture.

ARM64 (aarch64) support

Over time, ARM evolved to support more sophisticated computing features, including 64-bit processing with the ARMv8-A architecture, which added improved virtualization, security (via TrustZone), and greater addressing capabilities. Despite its relatively minimalist foundation, ARM's adaptability and efficiency have made it a dominant architecture in everything from IoT devices to high-end computing platforms.