Post #2012948

2026-04-29 19:12 UTC

@anthk quite a bit of firmware is non-free even when a typical system with Linux-libre, it's just read from a ROM instead of uploaded by a driver into the chip's memory upon initialization. The big issue with using random firmware blobs is that people become accustomed to their OS updates delivering new versions of random blobs and there's no insight or control in what's going on there. If we all use a time-tested blob from many years ago, it is the same as dealing with a ROM blob.

Replies (2)

@anthk@neopaquita.es 2026-04-29 20:23

@jschwart Yet some people run 99% deblobbed laptops with gnuboot or similar or they switched to TALOS completely. I can't access to a ROM burner with ease, but for sure I can choose a GPU with libre drivers and some refurbished laptops with free firmware for almost anything.

Open ##2012949
@anthk@neopaquita.es 2026-04-29 21:05

@jschwart Also I would understand nonguix 's purpose if only were for firmware purposes where there's no libre alternative to get a device working and nothing more. No software, no control panels, no nothing: just the firmware to get a device working such as a wireless adapter. Maybe Bluetooth, Wireless and a few more. No CPU microcode, no IntelME kernel modules in any way, no Steam, no propietary AMD/Nvidia GL/Vulkan libraries, no modules for CUPS, no Chrome.

Open ##2012951