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0 pointstremon8y ago0 comments

Its refusal to package firmware binaries, for one, even if that firmware is required to have a useful machine. I'm looking at AMD specifically here, where recent graphics cards (including APU's) don't even do text-mode without the firmware.

(edit: I understand the why of it, and even agree on principle, but it still prevents me from running linux-libre on most of my systems)

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5 comments · 3 top-level

t0nt0n8y ago· 2 in thread

Next time you build or choose a system, consider one that can run free software.

I did, and it makes most things quite a bit easier.

Edit: I did after struggling with hw requiring nonfree blobs of different shapes and size for a couple of years. Currently I was lucky to get my hands on a system that I can run using linux-libre and the only component I have "extra" is a usb wifi card.

dragontamer8y ago

> Next time you build or choose a system, consider one that can run free software.

The only workstation that boots with entirely free software is like, the Talos II PowerPC, with a minimum cost of $5000.

Everyone else requires a binary blob somewhere. Either a UEFI blob, BIOS blob, some kind of driver somewhere, or whatnot. Raspberry Pi, AMD, Intel, everybody.

And before the Talos II, I don't think an "Open PC" devoid of proprietary binary blobs even existed. At least, something that is reasonably modern (ie: 64-bit, decent security, decent support with modern OSes)

namibj8y ago

What about pre-ME thinkpads, after replacing the wifi card with an ath9k/open source firmware one? Does the intel chipset graphic require a blob for simple framebuffer/textmode operation? Because I can't remember including any blobs in the libreboot I use there, and iirc I get output before a linux kernel is able to load device firmware.

It is 64bit, and runs pretty much anything from (from what I can tell, but not sure, due to CHMPXCHG16B) Windows 10, over FreeBSD to Android. Probably even something like QNX.

Yes, you might not call this reasonably modern, but according to the hard facts you listed as qualifiers for being reasonably modern, they tick off.

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rekado8y ago

While Linux-libre is the default for Guix there are no limitations in place that would keep you from using vanilla Linux. In fact, Guix makes it extremely easy to build custom packages, and that includes custom kernel packages.

You can augment the package collection that comes with Guix with a simple environment variable, so the insistence on software libre on the side of the project should not represent a technical hurdle.

Digital-Citizen8y ago

I think you're probably stating this incorrectly. Are you sure you don't mean to say that Linux-libre objects to distributing nonfree firmware?

I'd guess that GNU Linux-libre project maintainers have no objection to distributing free software firmware as part of Linux-libre.

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