6 ms·

So I'll be a cynic and say that it's often due to the actions of the company that prevent the user from "using" the code, at least on that device. How many devi

So I'll be a cynic and say that it's often due to the actions of the company that prevent the user from "using" the code, at least on that device. How many devices have a linux kernel but lock the bootloader down for example?

bgorman 6y ago
99.9% of embedded Linux devices.
- j1elo 6y ago
  Note that allowing this is 100% intended: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PmHRSeA2c8&t=47m20s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PmHRSeA2c8&t=47m20s
  - ramshorns 6y ago
    Yeah, though a really strict reading of GPLv2's "the scripts used to control compilation and installation" might suggest that it's not, since maybe the source code has to include the signing key to get it onto the device. But I don't think anyone's dying on that hill, they just made a new license.
    - smichel17 6y ago
      I believe Bradley Kuhn does subscribe to this interpretation of GPLv2, based on watching this talk he gave at LibrePlanet 2020 https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/preventing-the-iot-dystopia-with-copyleft/ https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/preventing-the... First slide on the topic at 13:55 Returns to the slide at 17:20 If I remember correctly, somewhere else in the talk he says something like, "I don't think we need GPLv3 for this", but I don't remember where (earlier or later) and don't have time to re-watch the whole talk to hunt for it right now. (edit: although I think he still prefers v3 / thinks it is stronger. Really you should just watch the talk instead of taking my memory of what he said for granted)
- rvense 6y ago
  Is it? The one new thing I've looked at (the Akai MPC Live drum machine) had everything wide open. Root console, no password. This also seems to have been the case for a lot of older network appliances etc, but it might have changed in recent years?
  - outsomnia 6y ago
    You have a 0.1% device. Meanwhile, billions of Linux-based Android devices have locked down bootloaders like the parent comment said.
  - Rochus 6y ago
    Have you really tried to upload and run a modified version of the firmware on the device? Is guarantee void if you do it (in case it actually works)?

bgorman 6y ago

99.9% of embedded Linux devices.

j1elo 6y ago
Note that allowing this is 100% intended: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PmHRSeA2c8&t=47m20s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PmHRSeA2c8&t=47m20s
- ramshorns 6y ago
  Yeah, though a really strict reading of GPLv2's "the scripts used to control compilation and installation" might suggest that it's not, since maybe the source code has to include the signing key to get it onto the device. But I don't think anyone's dying on that hill, they just made a new license.
  - smichel17 6y ago
    I believe Bradley Kuhn does subscribe to this interpretation of GPLv2, based on watching this talk he gave at LibrePlanet 2020 https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/preventing-the-iot-dystopia-with-copyleft/ https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/preventing-the... First slide on the topic at 13:55 Returns to the slide at 17:20 If I remember correctly, somewhere else in the talk he says something like, "I don't think we need GPLv3 for this", but I don't remember where (earlier or later) and don't have time to re-watch the whole talk to hunt for it right now. (edit: although I think he still prefers v3 / thinks it is stronger. Really you should just watch the talk instead of taking my memory of what he said for granted)
rvense 6y ago
Is it? The one new thing I've looked at (the Akai MPC Live drum machine) had everything wide open. Root console, no password. This also seems to have been the case for a lot of older network appliances etc, but it might have changed in recent years?
- outsomnia 6y ago
  You have a 0.1% device. Meanwhile, billions of Linux-based Android devices have locked down bootloaders like the parent comment said.
- Rochus 6y ago
  Have you really tried to upload and run a modified version of the firmware on the device? Is guarantee void if you do it (in case it actually works)?