From 063c9ac45772f675ec96972883fadf42b76462b8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Leah Rowe Date: Sun, 12 May 2024 21:27:31 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] actually say what canoeboot is Signed-off-by: Leah Rowe --- site/news/gnu.md | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 42 insertions(+) diff --git a/site/news/gnu.md b/site/news/gnu.md index 9ae2151..5f62387 100644 --- a/site/news/gnu.md +++ b/site/news/gnu.md @@ -8,6 +8,45 @@ In it, I make a strong case in support of membership, and I encourage members of the public to also voice their opinions about this topic. Therefore, I have publicised this link in several places: +What is Canoeboot? +================== + +The *Canoeboot* project provides +[free](https://writefreesoftware.org/learn) (*libre*) boot +firmware based on coreboot, replacing proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware +on [specific Intel/AMD x86 and ARM based motherboards](docs/hardware/), +including laptop and desktop computers. It initialises the hardware (e.g. memory +controller, CPU, peripherals) and starts a bootloader for your operating +system. [GNU+Linux](../docs/gnulinux/) and [BSD](../docs/bsd/) are well-supported. Help is +available via [\#canoeboot](https://web.libera.chat/#canoeboot) +on [Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC. + +Canoeboot is a *special fork* of LIbreboot, maintained in parallel to it. +Canoeboot adheres to the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines, ensuring +that everything in the flash is *free software*. Canoeboot *only* supports a +very limited subset of hardware from coreboot (which it uses for initialisation) +due to this policy, but it's provided for the purists who only want free +software. +The right to study, share, modify and use software freely without restrictions +is a fundamental right that everyone *must* have. + +The benefit of Canoeboot is that it provides a completely +automated build process and installation procedure, with well-tested builds +released on a regular basis that the user can simply install, with minimal +fuss. You can think of it as a *coreboot distro*. Coreboot provides snapshot +source code archives every few months, but that's it. Canoeboot gives +you the ROM images pre-compiled, with source code, and with payloads +already pre-configured. In other words: Canoeboot makes coreboot +extremely easy to use. + +More info about Canoeboot's design can be found in the [build system +documentation](../docs/maintain/). + +Thoughts welcome! +================= + +I asked this question in various places, where you can comment: + Thread on FSF LibrePlanet mailing list: @@ -21,6 +60,9 @@ ground for many debates within the FSF community): And reddit: +Email sent to GNU Eval +====================== + Here is the email that I sent (replies to it will **not** be published, only my original email below will be):