GNU Linux-libre 5.0-gnu Released As A Kernel Without Any Binary Blobs/Firmware

[phoronix]

Phoronix: GNU Linux-libre 5.0-gnu Released As A Kernel Without Any Binary Blobs/Firmware

As usual, following yesterday's release of Linux 5.0 the GNU/FSF folks have put out their re-base of their version of the Linux kernel that strips out support for drivers depending upon binary-only firmware, the ability to load non-free (closed-source) kernel modules, and other functionality removed that isn't in strict compliance with open-source standards...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=GNU-Linux-Libre-5.0-Released

[tildearrow]

It is so ironic this "libre" kernel strips away my freedom to load binary blobs and proprietary software.

[Britoid]

It is so ironic this "libre" kernel strips away my freedom to load binary blobs and proprietary software.

It's only freedom if you do it the way they want you to do it.

[Guest]

It is so ironic this "libre" kernel strips away my freedom to load binary blobs and proprietary software.

Considering that you can't do as much with these blobs as you can with the rest of the kernel, and that you don't even get the source code for them, it's freer. Also, if you want to use a non-free kernel, nothing is stopping you from grabbing a copy.

[mrazster]

Does there "blobfree magic" also prevent one from using closed sources drivers, like i.e nvidiadrivers ?

[Michael]

Does there "blobfree magic" also prevent one from using closed sources drivers, like i.e nvidiadrivers ?

Yes binary kernel drivers cant be loaded

[Grogan]

I had a taste of "freedom" when I first bought my current video card. I had to use fglrx (they were calling it "crimson beta" at the time), and I found that they changed a lot of symbols in the kernel to "GPL-only" and the kernel build system itself was sabotaging the linking of the driver. A bit of editing, and lying to the kernel build system using a null character in the module license string, got it to compile. Ironically, that was the best fglrx experience ever for me, I had not one problem. I stayed with Linux 4.2.0 and that driver for more than a year, until amdgpu was good.

That royally pissed me off at the time. It made me never want to upgrade my kernel again. Of course, it's all good now and I'm glad of it. It's not that I really wanted to use a proprietary driver, I NEEDED It and that's the point.

[andyprough]

It is so ironic this "libre" kernel strips away my freedom to load binary blobs and proprietary software.

You can install proprietary software all day long, the Libre kernel has no control over that. if you use a Libre distro that enforces a proprietary software blacklist, like Parabola was doing last I used it, then you'll have to find a way to edit the blacklist before adding the software via the package manager.

Yes binary kernel drivers cant be loaded

I thought there was a way to force a binary driver to load, but I don't recall for certain. I tried some hacks a few years ago to get a wireless card running just for fun. Not sure why anyone would ever use Libre-linux kernel if they DID want to load a binary driver though. Other than just wasting time on a hobby project like with that wireless card I had.

The machines I run the Libre kernel on actually run better for me than if I try to run them with the regular kernel. I'm sure part of that is because I'm compiling my own Libre kernels. Also, I'm pretty sure compile times are shorter with Libre. If you have a laptop like I'm using right now with an i3 that's a few years old and intel integrated graphics and a Libre-compatible wifi card, it's worth it to try it out and see how it responds. Download and run Trisquel as a live ISO - see how it works for you. Libre distros like Trisquel are way beyond what they used to be. You really can't tell the difference for the most part, as long as your hardware is compatible. Not for modern non-Intel gaming, but the rest of it - really not much difference.

[prec]

Would this libre make a difference in performance?
Only CPU benchmarking it.
Libre kernel + clear linux, anyone tested?

[Michael]

Would this libre make a difference in performance?
Only CPU benchmarking it.
Libre kernel + clear linux, anyone tested?

They are just removing "non-free" bits, not anything to optimize performance. With most of those bits already in modules, it won't affect the size of the kernel loaded into memory or the like, so not likely to be any performance change.