Following yesterday’s Linux 6.18 kernel release, GNU Linux-libre 6.18-gnu is out today as the latest release of this free software purist kernel that will drop/block drivers from loading microcode/firmware considered non-free-software and other restrictions in the name of not pushing binary blobs even when needed for hardware support/functionality on otherwise open-source drivers.

With Linux 6.18 there are more upstream kernel drivers dependent upon binary-only firmware/microcode. Among the drivers called out this cycle are the open-source NVIDIA Nova-Core Rust driver as well as the modern Intel Xe driver. Nova-Core is exclusively designed around the NVIDIA GPU System Processor (GSP) usage and thus without its firmware the driver is inoperable. Similarly, with the newer Intel Xe driver depending upon the GuC micro-controller without its firmware the support is also rendered useless.

  • far_university1990@reddthat.com
    1·
    17 hours ago

    A hardware circuit can’t be changed; that’s its nature. If it’s acceptable for a device to be implemented with internal circuitry that no one can alter, then an internal program that no one can alter is no worse.

    Treat ROM firmware as circuit.

    The equivalence falls apart, however, when the software implementation is not totally internal and some company can modify that code. For example, when firmware needs to be copied into the device to make the device function, or included in the system distribution that you install, that is no internal software implementation; rather, it is a piece of installed nonfree software. It is unjust because some manufacturer can change it but you can’t.

    Here, for your reference, ROM is fair for anyone, non-ROM that is non-free not fair.

    But not think this imply “ROM better”, but rather “make free software or no software at all”. He want absolute freedom, you want usability. Which absolutely not what libre about.