GNU Linux-libre 5.16 Brings More Firmware Cleansing, Deblobbing

[phoronix]

Phoronix: GNU Linux-libre 5.16 Brings More Firmware Cleansing, Deblobbing

Following yesterday's release of Linux 5.16, the GNU folks have released GNU Linux-libre 5.16-gnu as their downstream that removes/disables any code depending upon non-open-source firmware/microcode binaries, the ability to load proprietary kernel modules, and other cleaning in the name of free software...

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=GNU-Linux-Libre-5.16

[tildearrow]

If only devices didn't require loadable firmware just to operate...

[discordian]

Still runs on Hardware with built-in spy coprocessors and firmware and thus not really promoting "libre", I will be kind and label this effort as a bad joke.

[novideo]

Still runs on Hardware with built-in spy coprocessors and firmware and thus not really promoting "libre", I will be kind and label this effort as a bad joke.

That outside the scope of the kernel.

[andyprough]

Still runs on Hardware with built-in spy coprocessors and firmware and thus not really promoting "libre", I will be kind and label this effort as a bad joke.

"Free software sometimes runs alongside non-free software so no one should ever make free software" - is the stupidest of all the incredibly stupid arguments I've seen against linux-libre on this site over the years.

Bravo.

[discordian]

"Free software sometimes runs alongside non-free software so no one should ever make free software" - is the stupidest of all the incredibly stupid arguments I've seen against linux-libre on this site over the years.

Bravo.

Exactly, linux-libre ridicules itself. Whats the difference if firmware is stored on Rom vs loaded from your disk?

[Developer12]

This is the most pointless freedom-theater I've ever seen.

[Vistaus]

Still runs on Hardware with built-in spy coprocessors and firmware and thus not really promoting "libre", I will be kind and label this effort as a bad joke.

That's why it's called ‘Linux’-libre instead of ‘hardware-libre’. Linux is just a kernel on top of all of that stuff. If you want everything to be libre, you have to start somewhere. In this case, they started with the kernel, since that's a lot easier to deblob than coming over to everyone's house and modify their PC internals.

[birdie]

This is the most pointless freedom-theater I've ever seen.

I used to mock the releases of Linux Libre but then stopped. I don't know anyone who actually uses them, so let's just skip them altogether and talk about something more interesting. People who enjoy them seemingly don't understand the real world and also the fact that pretty much everything already contains firmware: CPU, GPU, motherboard (UEFI), SSD/HDD, DVD/BluRay (some people still use them), LAN NIC, Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, and sound card.

[RahulSundaram]

Exactly, linux-libre ridicules itself. Whats the difference if firmware is stored on Rom vs loaded from your disk?

The difference is that in the latter case, only the firmware vendor is capable of updating the firmware much like any proprietary software and in the former case, everyone is on equal footing at the software level. FSF considers this distinction relevant and someone has volunteered to do the work. While I will not use it, I don't think it is ridiculous to highlight the presence of binary blobs within otherwise GPL software.