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I found it quite easy to switch to linux from linux-libre. However, they package IceCat instead of Firefox, and that's a much tougher one. Note IceCat is not v

by nextos 8y ago

I found it quite easy to switch to linux from linux-libre. However, they package IceCat instead of Firefox, and that's a much tougher one. Note IceCat is not very well maintained. Nonetheless, there are a few third party repos from users with non-GNU-sanctioned software. I hope it becomes a bit like Emacs, where GNU Elpa coexists in harmony with MELPA.

davexunit 8y ago
I think eventually we'll have our own firefox package that sticks much closer to upstream and makes minimal branding/config changes. A lot of active community members want it.
- nextos 8y ago
  That would be ideal. Keep up the good work with Guix.
RX14 8y ago
Well pretty much every Wifi card doesn't work in linux-libre, so that's the main thing. I'm sure I'd find a lot more that doesn't work if I tried linux-libre.
- namibj 8y ago
  That's due to regulation, combined with hardware manufacturers correctly choosing to load the firmware by the driver/host, instead of some on-board permanent storage. Note that there are reasonably performance 802.11n cards with non-reverse-engineered open source firmware. They iirc use the ath9k driver, and are the result of the manufacturer opening them up to both Linux and BSD kernel license compatible status. They are great for hacking and there are some with 5GHz support. You have to keep in mind that hacking the firmware might violate the RF spectrum laws, which is relevant as much as GDPR compliance: if they can excert legal pressure on you, and do more than send angry letters and call you in the middle of the night, you have to consider if those jurisdiction's laws forbid your doings. TLDR: they exist, they are not expensive, they can't do 802.11ac or 802.11ad, hacking the kernel-license compatible source might violate FCC or similar regulations and could well be punished harsh in case someone complains about what you do and you'r behavior is provably non-spec-conformant. Be careful, and choose your hardware wisely to not use binary blobs. Also I assume you use an old CPU, if you wanna go the linux-libre route. I have a system where I'm not sure yet which OS it will get, but I already (with help, and soldering) removed the Intel ME from the firmware, and might even physically remove the processor that would have executed this, or do this soft and just cut it from power or something.
mikegerwitz 8y ago
> Note IceCat is not very well maintained. Its maintainer is working on upgrading to the latest ESR now. If anyone is interested in helping maintain IceCat, please e-mail maintainers@gnu.org.

by nextos 8y ago

davexunit 8y ago

I think eventually we'll have our own firefox package that sticks much closer to upstream and makes minimal branding/config changes. A lot of active community members want it.

nextos 8y ago
That would be ideal. Keep up the good work with Guix.

RX14 8y ago

Well pretty much every Wifi card doesn't work in linux-libre, so that's the main thing. I'm sure I'd find a lot more that doesn't work if I tried linux-libre.

namibj 8y ago
That's due to regulation, combined with hardware manufacturers correctly choosing to load the firmware by the driver/host, instead of some on-board permanent storage. Note that there are reasonably performance 802.11n cards with non-reverse-engineered open source firmware. They iirc use the ath9k driver, and are the result of the manufacturer opening them up to both Linux and BSD kernel license compatible status. They are great for hacking and there are some with 5GHz support. You have to keep in mind that hacking the firmware might violate the RF spectrum laws, which is relevant as much as GDPR compliance: if they can excert legal pressure on you, and do more than send angry letters and call you in the middle of the night, you have to consider if those jurisdiction's laws forbid your doings. TLDR: they exist, they are not expensive, they can't do 802.11ac or 802.11ad, hacking the kernel-license compatible source might violate FCC or similar regulations and could well be punished harsh in case someone complains about what you do and you'r behavior is provably non-spec-conformant. Be careful, and choose your hardware wisely to not use binary blobs. Also I assume you use an old CPU, if you wanna go the linux-libre route. I have a system where I'm not sure yet which OS it will get, but I already (with help, and soldering) removed the Intel ME from the firmware, and might even physically remove the processor that would have executed this, or do this soft and just cut it from power or something.

mikegerwitz 8y ago

> Note IceCat is not very well maintained. Its maintainer is working on upgrading to the latest ESR now. If anyone is interested in helping maintain IceCat, please e-mail maintainers@gnu.org.