As long as FPGAs are available to consumers, it will be possible to have a computer running on open hardware. On the front page right now is this project: https

As long as FPGAs are available to consumers, it will be possible to have a computer running on open hardware. On the front page right now is this project: https://github.com/stnolting/neorv32 https://github.com/stnolting/neorv32 It's possible right now to have an FPGA running an open-source RISC-V implementation. The software isn't there yet, but I expect this to change as more RISC-V boards get on the market. God knows how useful this 'bootleg' computer will be, but it's a foundation to build on, at least. There's already work on porting Debian to RISC-V. https://archive.fosdem.org/2019/schedule/event/riscvdebian/attachments/slides/3179/export/events/attachments/riscvdebian/slides/3179/Porting_Debian_to_the_RISC_V_architecture_FOSDEM_2019.pdf https://archive.fosdem.org/2019/schedule/event/riscvdebian/a... And with a free, open ISA, it's not impossible for smaller, independent manufacturers to crop up and produce their own chips, especially given that the US is now investing in chip-fab. (if there is demand. If nobody cares that they don't own their machines, we were screwed from the start.) I see a lot more hardware content on Youtube nowadays. Channels like Ben Eater are educating people on how computers work, and more accessible FPGAs may help create a more flexible environment for hardware.