5. FAQΒΆ

Q: What can I run Keystone on?
  • A: Keystone can be run on real RISC-V hardware, on FGPA, and in simulation. See Getting Started
Q: What is the difference between the SM and runtime?
  • A: The SM is part of the Keystone TCB, and is trusted by all components. The runtime is a (technically) optional part of the enclave itself. While the enclave app trusts it, it is not part of the trusted boot process and is not part of the Keystone TCB.
Q: Why are enclaves/SM/etc written in C? Why not Rust (or another modern language)?
  • A: Rust RV64 support was unavailable when Keystone was started. Few options for the security monitor besides C were available. We are keeping a close eye on Rust support as it matures for RV64, and expect to support it for enclaves at a minimum.