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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Wait... why does Linux-libre (and #Freedo) exist? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Is Linux not free software itself? I thought propietary stuff was added downstream.

Am I getting something wrong?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You know anyone is capable of telling the same thing, but about proprietary code or about that stance you have? Not everyone has to follow the FSF steps nor LInux-Libre, they're there for people who want them and follows their principles. They do what they think is right and invest in that, you don't so you don't invest in that. I think it's great for them to work in projects like GNU Health, Linux-Libre or even Hurd (if it's even active) so we can see more free software development in the future and free software culture in things like health devices (which may or may not be inside your body). I agree with you about microcode, though, but I think AMD is working on opening some microcode in their GPUs (I'm not sure about CPUs), which is great! You can just do your own thing, I prefer to use free software when I can and settle with proprietary code I can't change, other people likes to settle with proprietary systems and a small group likes to force free software in everything they can. I can still help with donations, reporting issues (my favorite part about FOSS/OSS is clear communication) and helping the community until I'm knowledgeable enough in programming.

Btw, I don't think we have to always settle, we can still fight and get things changing for the better. It may take some time, but I think it's worth it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

I also think there are great projects under the FSF. My issue is the politics and Linux-libre because it's harmful.

I don't think CPU microcode will be open source but the good thing is that RISC-V and ARM don't need microcode so that could be avoided entirely in the future.

Right now (and for a while from now) we have to always settle, the FSF only never settle because they settled when writing their nonsensical guidelines. Closest you can get to full open source device is the MNT reform laptop. Technically you can even have an Open Source CPU on it but everything is at the cost of usability and yet it's still not perfect. But nothing is perfect imo, that's why imo you can never settle.