Linux-libre

According to the Free Software Foundation Latin America, Linux-libre is a modified version of the Linux kernel that contains no binary blobs, obfuscated code, or code released under proprietary licenses. In the Linux kernel, those types of code are mostly used for proprietary firmware images. While generally redistributable, they do not give the user the freedom to audit, modify, or, consequently, redistribute their modified versions. The GNU Project keeps Linux-libre in synchronization with the mainline Linux kernel.

According to the Free Software Foundation Latin America, Linux-libre is a modified version of the Linux kernel that contains no binary blobs, obfuscated code, or code released under proprietary licenses. In the Linux kernel, those types of code are mostly used for proprietary firmware images. While generally redistributable, they do not give the user the freedom to audit, modify, or, consequently, redistribute their modified versions. The GNU Project keeps Linux-libre in synchronization with the mainline Linux kernel. ===Benefits=== Aside from the primary intended effect of running a system with only free software, the practical consequences of removing device firmware that a user is not allowed to study or modify has both positive and negative effects. Removal of device firmware can be considered an advantage for security and stability. When the firmware cannot be audited for bugs, security problems, and malicious functions such as backdoors, or when the firmware cannot be fixed by the Linux kernel maintainers themselves, even if they know of problems, it is possible for the entire system to be compromised by a malicious firmware. Without the ability to perform a security audit on manufacturer-provided firmware, even an innocent bug could undermine the safety of the running system. ===Hardware support=== Removing proprietary firmware from the kernel will cause loss of functionality of certain hardware that does not have a free software replacement available. This affects certain sound, video, TV tuner, and network cards, especially in the case of recent Intel Wi-Fi cards and recent Nvidia graphics cards, as well as some other devices. When possible, free software replacement firmware is provided as a substitute, such as the openfwwf for b43, carl9170 and ath9k_htc wireless card drivers. Reviewer Ramces Red summarized the issue with Linux-Libre, writing, "it does not always have the best hardware support." ===Microcode=== Linux-libre does not suggest the user install CPU microcode update bundles, since the code is proprietary. Microcode update bundles have been used in the mainline Linux kernel version, among other things, to mitigate hardware vulnerabilities. ===Distributions in which Linux-libre is the default kernel=== Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre dyne:bolic GNU Guix System Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre Parabola GNU/Linux-libre Considered small distributions libreCMC ProteanOS (If the underlying hardware is not supported, it must be ported. ) Historical Musix GNU+Linux ===Distributions that compile a free Linux kernel=== These distros do not use the packaged Linux-libre but instead completely remove binary blobs from the mainline Linux kernel. The source is then compiled and the resulting free Linux kernel is used by default in these systems: Debian (May install binary blobs with the installer or kernel by default. ) PureOS Uruk GNU/Linux Trisquel (Linux-libre deblob script is used during its development. ) Historical BLAG gNewSense (It was based on Debian.) Canaima (It was based on Debian.) Ututo ===Linux-libre as an alternative kernel=== Distributions in which Linux is the default kernel used and which propose Linux-libre as an alternative kernel: Arch Linux Fedora Gentoo Linux Mandriva-derived (PCLinuxOS, Mageia, OpenMandrivaLx, ROSA Fresh) openSUSE Tumbleweed (via OpenBuildService) Slackware

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