linux-drivers/
drivers/mtd/spi-nor

SPI NOR flash memory framework

A kernel framework for Serial NOR flash chips on the SPI bus, the small non-volatile memories that hold bootloaders, firmware, and configuration on routers, embedded boards, automotive controllers, and many servers. It auto-detects chips via the JEDEC SFDP standard and supports parts from Macronix, Winbond, Micron, and others, from 512Kb to 2Gb.

keep conf=0.95 deploy=high replacement=none subsystem=mtd category=storage-flash
95%

recommendation

It should stay because SPI NOR flash is everywhere in modern hardware, used to store firmware and boot code on routers, embedded boards, servers, and countless IoT devices. The subsystem is actively maintained with new chip support and fixes landing through 2025-2026, and vendors like Macronix and Winbond continue to ship new parts in mass production.

repository signals

27 files
12,276 source lines
339 commits, 5y
+8,218 / −6,960 lines added / removed, 5y
62 authors, 5y
monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 339 total · active in 53/61 months
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2021-04: 2 commits · +2 −1 2021-05: 9 commits · +217 −17 2021-06: 6 commits · +153 −18 2021-07: 2 commits · +1 −2 2021-08: 0 commits · +0 −0 2021-09: 2 commits · +4 −10 2021-10: 10 commits · +56 −38 2021-11: 2 commits · +9 −7 2021-12: 16 commits · +1,060 −834 2022-01: 1 commit · +9 −0 2022-02: 35 commits · +655 −1,762 2022-03: 0 commits · +0 −0 2022-04: 17 commits · +740 −337 2022-05: 4 commits · +13 −936 2022-06: 1 commit · +3 −3 2022-07: 11 commits · +281 −109 2022-08: 11 commits · +121 −26 2022-09: 5 commits · +40 −3 2022-10: 3 commits · +21 −8 2022-11: 1 commit · +1 −2 2022-12: 4 commits · +65 −65 2023-01: 2 commits · +18 −13 2023-02: 3 commits · +43 −15 2023-03: 23 commits · +794 −124 2023-04: 11 commits · +338 −94 2023-05: 2 commits · +6 −3 2023-06: 1 commit · +12 −2 2023-07: 16 commits · +296 −181 2023-08: 3 commits · +20 −36 2023-09: 42 commits · +1,989 −1,467 2023-10: 4 commits · +19 −10 2023-11: 8 commits · +188 −99 2023-12: 5 commits · +41 −21 2024-01: 0 commits · +0 −0 2024-02: 4 commits · +151 −191 2024-03: 1 commit · +1 −1 2024-04: 5 commits · +75 −286 2024-05: 0 commits · +0 −0 2024-06: 2 commits · +16 −18 2024-07: 2 commits · +21 −20 2024-08: 2 commits · +30 −0 2024-09: 5 commits · +109 −2 2024-10: 3 commits · +4 −2 2024-11: 7 commits · +20 −16 2024-12: 4 commits · +19 −5 2025-01: 3 commits · +89 −1 2025-02: 6 commits · +58 −52 2025-03: 2 commits · +1 −1 2025-04: 3 commits · +39 −34 2025-05: 2 commits · +7 −7 2025-06: 1 commit · +31 −0 2025-07: 3 commits · +151 −13 2025-08: 0 commits · +0 −0 2025-09: 1 commit · +10 −0 2025-10: 0 commits · +0 −0 2025-11: 14 commits · +156 −49 2025-12: 0 commits · +0 −0 2026-01: 1 commit · +2 −5 2026-02: 3 commits · +4 −5 2026-03: 2 commits · +7 −7 2026-04: 0 commits · +0 −0

sources

  1. docs.kernel.org

    Kernel documentation describes this as the SPI NOR framework and notes generic probing via SFDP and the "jedec,spi-nor" compatible.

  2. macronix.com

    Macronix markets current Serial NOR Flash families from 512Kb to 2Gb for automotive, industrial, communications, security and IoT uses, indicating ongoing new-hardware availability.

  3. winbond.com

    Winbond lists a Serial NOR part with industrial status "Mass Production" and updated collateral in 2026, showing continued active sales of SPI NOR devices.

codex reasoning notes (technical)

Local shell inspection (`rg`, `sed`) confirmed this directory is real kernel driver/framework code with module entry points and Kconfig coverage. Local `git log` (with temporary safe.directory override after `lei` was unavailable) showed heavy 2025-2026 upstream activity, including new chip support and bug fixes, so this is actively maintained rather than a retirement candidate. Web `open` on docs.kernel.org confirmed the subsystem role; web `search_query` found current Macronix and Winbond Serial NOR product pages. Separate web searches for lore removal/deprecate terms produced no relevant removal-thread URLs, so there is no evidence here of active upstream removal discussion.