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NXP's open-source Linux kernel driver for their Neutron NPU accelerator is blocked from mainlining due to a closed-source binary blob (libNeutronDriver.so) in their user-space software stack. The NXP GitHub repository for the Neutron NPU, used in SoCs like the i.MX95 for edge AI workloads, depends on this proprietary library. NXP engineers have acknowledged the issue on the Linux kernel mailing list and say they plan to open-source the library, but it could take several more months. Without an open-source user-space implementation, Linux kernel policy prevents the driver from being merged into mainline — a recurring obstacle for hardware vendors relying on binary blobs.

NXP Neutron NPU Kernel Driver Blocked For Now By A Closed-Source User-Space Blob