The GNU Linux-libre 3.14-gnu Ultra-Free Kernel Released

Following last night's release of the Linux 3.14 kernel, the GNU folks are out with their Linux-based "Freedom Pi" kernel.

The GNU Linux-libre 3.14-gnu kernel is the upstream Linux 3.14.0 kernel but is "100% free" and removes non-free components from the kernel source tree like firmware blobs and "[code] disguised as source code." The libre kernel flavor also disables run-time requests for non-free kernel components.

The developers behind this kernel "deblobbing" effort also report that they're nearly done with their #1 bug -- the disabling of requests for non-free firmware removes the ability to use non-free firmware without rebuilding the driver or the entire kernel. The #1 bug fix is expected to land in a 3.14 libre point release.

More details on this "Freedom Pi" libre kernel can be found via the GNU mailing list. We've already written at length about Linux 3.14 kernel features.