RPi 5 prototype fan control, GigE, and soon WiFi needs testers, reviewers, PRs

Jeremy McMillan <[email protected]> Sat, 23 May 2026 23:45:50 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.os.freebsd.devel.arm
Message-ID <mVxANZ6PwsVEJvJgkbS_fUIC2Ep_N2VNb-z3V7P85pUo2dNkmkQwPCJy5JOHldYDGfIjiyBzba8DbB-2LF8FYQJFL6scmGyxd0SQO3lEf-o=@pm.me>
https://github.com/aphor/FreeBSD15-RPi5-modules

This started as a challenge to learn to use Claude Code, but now I'm far enough along I want to eventually get it merged into CURRENT. It's not quite "vibe coded" as I've been supervising WAY too closely to call it a "vibe" thing, but

- it works
- even if I hand coded it, still need more eyeballs
- I know this will need refactoring and rewriting ergo opinions guiding that effort are also needed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_Give_a_Mouse_a_Cookie

It started out with just the fan control because on the latest firmware the fan header doesn't do anything when booting a plain ARM FreeBSD kernel/system, and my poor Pi5 kept locking up without an external fan blowing on it...

Then I wasn't happy with the USB Ethernet performance, and so I churned out a GigE NIC driver.

Then someone on the forums suggested I try the WiFi driver too. Today I crossed a milestone and got a wlan if attached and scanned SSIDs. That stuff may be complete enough this weekend to join a network.

I'm having some fun with this, but we're better together, so I want to openly invite constructive criticism and contributions. Later I may need some help from the community, like exploring FDT without ACPI, as the RP1 ACPI seems meh and the FDT seems better maintained wrt firmware updates.

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