Q: How can I enable /dev/spidev0,0 on a rock64 system? Context: I am trying to make the python demo code of Waveshare ePaper (like https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/E-Paper_Driver_HAT) work with Rock64.
I already used the different python lib (with RPi.GPIO-PineA64) and adjusted the pinout. 
Current os (uname -a) is Linux rock64 4.4.126-rockchip-ayufan-239 aarch64 GNU/Linux

Current Error is:
File "/root/test-code/python/epdif.py", line 43, in 
SPI = spidev.SpiDev(0, 0)
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory

I think it might be just a command similar to
"enable_dtoverlay i2c0 i2c@ff150000 okay" but I have not figured out what the magic words are or what I need to change.
I looked at the docs for device trees, but thats beyond my understanding what I need to do.
Similar unanswered Questions are:


*

*https://forum.armbian.com/topic/5951-activate-spidev-on-the-rock64/

*https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=5409
[...]


Not understood to the point that I can act on it:


*

*https://github.com/ayufan-rock64/linux-build/blob/master/recipes/additional-devices.md#use-additional-devices
Similar Questions with an answer that does not work (anymore) or are beyond my skills are:


*

*https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=5682 (didn't work)

*https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=4869 (modprobe did not do the trick for me)

*https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=5473 (no clue if its related)

*https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=1297&page=5 (other distro, right?)


Thank you for any help in advance.

A: If you're not committed to using Ayufan's OS images, I would suggest trying out Armbian Xenial (based on Ubuntu 16.04) and then you may apply the solution from point 4 in your post, as the approach suggested by user "martinayotte" in that thread has received positive feedback and it also provides a way to test if the newly enabled SPI device works.
Personally, I have been running Armbian Xenial  on my 4GB Rock64 and have no complains so far, apart from this, but I think it's a more general issue as opposed to a Armbian one.
Also, I stumbled onto this post which provides an solution for a Pine64 board, not the Rock64, but maybe you can try to adapt it.

A: I think I have the answer to your question. Even I faced the same issue so I tried all the solutions provided in the links you shared, including the armbian ones. 
I booted into armbian using eMMC and did the steps as mentioned by @dontpostalot in this link on modifying the device tree overlay. As of now, I have spidev showing in my /dev folder. I'm yet to interface a device using it.
The steps are the same for Ubuntu as well as armbian except for the fact that you will have to identify the right .dtb that's synonymous to your board in your /boot folder.
