update the README
Leah Rowe
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README.md
152
README.md
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@ -3,83 +3,69 @@ Free your BIOS today! GNU GPL style
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Find libreboot documentation at <https://libreboot.org/>
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Libreboot is
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[freedom-respecting](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)
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*boot firmware* that initializes the hardware (e.g.
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memory controller, CPU, peripherals) in your computer so that software can run.
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Libreboot then starts a bootloader to load your operating system. It replaces the
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proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware typically found on a computer. Libreboot is
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compatible with specific computer models that use the Intel/AMD x86
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architecture. Libreboot works well with GNU+Linux and BSD
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operating systems. User support is available
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at [\#libreboot](https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=libreboot) on Freenode
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IRC.
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Libreboot is a *Free Software* project, but can be considered Open Source.
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[The GNU website](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.en.html)
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teaches why you should call it Free Software instead; alternatively, you may
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call it libre software.
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Libreboot uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for hardware initialization.
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However, *coreboot* is notoriously difficult to compile and install for most
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non-technical users. There are many complicated configuration steps required,
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and coreboot by itself is useless; coreboot only handles basic hardware
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initialization, and then jumps to a separate *payload* program. The payload
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program can be anything, for example a Linux kernel, bootloader (such as
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GNU GRUB), UEFI implementation (such as Tianocore) or BIOS implementation
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(such as SeaBIOS). While not quite as complicated as building a GNU+Linux
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distribution from scratch, it may aswell be as far as most non-technical users
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are concerned.
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Libreboot solves this problem in a novel way:
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Libreboot is a *coreboot distribution* much like Debian is a *GNU+Linux
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distribution*. Libreboot provides an *automated build system* that downloads,
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patches (where necessary) and compiles coreboot, GNU GRUB, various payloads and
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all other software components needed to build a complete, working *ROM image*
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that you can install to replace your current BIOS/UEFI firmware, much like a
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GNU+Linux distribution (e.g. Debian) provides an ISO image that you can use to
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replace your current operating system (e.g. Windows).
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Information about who works on Libreboot, and who runs the project, can be
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found on the [who page](https://libreboot.org/who.html) page.
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The `libreboot` project provides
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[libre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source) *boot
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firmware* that initializes the hardware (e.g. memory controller, CPU,
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peripherals) on specific Intel/AMD x86 and ARM targets, which
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then starts a bootloader for your operating system. Linux/BSD are
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well-supported. It replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware. Help is available
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via [\#libreboot IRC](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot)
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on [Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC.
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Why use Libreboot?
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==================
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[Free software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) is important for
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the same reason that education is important.
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All children and adults alike should be entitled to a good education.
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Knowledge begs to be free! In the context of computing, this means that the
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source code should be fully available to study, and use in whatever way you
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see fit. In the context of computer hardware, this means that
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[Right to Repair](https://yewtu.be/watch?v=Npd_xDuNi9k)
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should be universal, with full access to documents such as the schematics and
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boardview files.
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Why should you use *libreboot*?
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----------------------------
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**[The four freedoms are paramount!](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)**
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Libreboot gives you freedoms that you otherwise can't get with most other
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boot firmware. It's extremely powerful and configurable for many use cases.
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You have rights. The right to privacy, freedom of thought, freedom
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of speech and the right to read. In the context of computing, that means anyone
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can use [free software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html). Simply
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speaking, free software is software that is under the direct sovereignty of the
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user and, more importantly, the collective that is the *community*. Libreboot
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is dedicated to the Free Software community, with the aim of making free software
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at a *low level* more accessible to non-technical people.
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You have rights. The right to privacy, freedom of thought, freedom of speech
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and the right to read. In this context, Libreboot gives you these rights.
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Your freedom matters.
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[Right to repair](https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=Npd_xDuNi9k) matters.
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Many people use proprietary (non-libre)
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boot firmware, even if they use [a libre OS](https://www.openbsd.org/).
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Proprietary firmware often contains backdoors (more info on the FAQ), and it
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and can be buggy. The libreboot project was founded in in December 2013,
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with the express purpose of making coreboot firmware accessible for
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non-technical users.
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Many people use [proprietary](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/proprietary.html)
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boot firmware, even if they use GNU+Linux. Non-free boot firmware often
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contains backdoors, can be slow and have severe
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bugs. Development and support can be abandoned at any time. By contrast,
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Libreboot is a free software project, where anyone can contribute or inspect
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its code.
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The `libreboot` project uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for [hardware
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initialisation](https://doc.coreboot.org/getting_started/architecture.html).
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Coreboot is notoriously difficult to install for most non-technical users; it
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handles only basic initialization and jumps to a separate
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[payload](https://doc.coreboot.org/payloads.html) program (e.g.
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[GRUB](https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/),
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[Tianocore](https://www.tianocore.org/)), which must also be configured.
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*The libreboot software solves this problem*; it is a *coreboot distribution* with
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an automated build system (named *lbmk*) that builds complete *ROM images*, for
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more robust installation. Documentation is provided.
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Libreboot is faster, more secure and more reliable than most non-free
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firmware. Libreboot provides many advanced features, like encrypted
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/boot/, GPG signature checking before booting a Linux kernel and more!
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Libreboot gives *you* control over *your* computing.
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How does Libreboot differ from coreboot?
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========================================
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In the same way that *Debian* is a GNU+Linux distribution, `libreboot` is
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a *coreboot distribution*. If you want to build a ROM image from scratch, you
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otherwise have to perform expert-level configuration of coreboot, GRUB and
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whatever other software you need, to prepare the ROM image. With *libreboot*,
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you can literally download from Git or a source archive, and run `make`, and it
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will build entire ROM images. An automated build system, named `lbmk`
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(Libreboot MaKe), builds these ROM images automatically, without any user input
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or intervention required. Configuration has already been performed in advance.
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If you were to build regular coreboot, without using libreboot's automated
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build system, it would require a lot more intervention and decent technical
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knowledge to produce a working configuration.
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Regular binary releases of `libreboot` provide these
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ROM images pre-compiled, and you can simply install them, with no special
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knowledge or skill except the ability to follow installation instructions
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and run commands BSD/Linux.
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Project goals
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-------------
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=============
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- *Support as much hardware as possible!* Libreboot aims to eventually
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have *maintainers* for every board supported by coreboot, at every
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@ -93,8 +79,7 @@ Project goals
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Libreboot attempts to bridge this divide by providing a build system
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automating much of the coreboot image creation and customization.
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Secondly, the project produces documentation aimed at non-technical users.
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Thirdly, the project attempts to provide excellent user support via mailing
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lists and IRC.
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Thirdly, the project attempts to provide excellent user support via IRC.
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Libreboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashrom and other
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needed parts. Everything is fully integrated, in a way where most of
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@ -114,14 +99,25 @@ re-bases on the latest version of coreboot, with the number of custom
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patches in use minimized. Tested, *stable* (static) releases are then provided
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in Libreboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
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LICENSE FOR THIS README:
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GNU Free Documentation License 1.3 as published by the Free Software Foundation,
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with no invariant sections, no front cover texts and no back cover texts. If
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you wish it, you may use a later version of the GNU Free Documentation License
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as published by the Free Software Foundation.
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How to help
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===========
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Copy of the GNU Free Documentation License v1.3 here:
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<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl-1.3.en.html>
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You can check bugs listed on
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the [bug tracker](https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues).
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Info about Free Software Foundation:
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<https://www.fsf.org/>
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If you spot a bug and have a fix, the website has instructions for how to send
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patches, and you can also report it. Also, this entire website is
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written in Markdown and hosted in a [separate
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repository](https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbwww) where you can send patches.
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Any and all development discussion and user support are all done on the IRC
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channel. More information is on the contact page of libreboot.org.
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LICENSE FOR THIS README
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=======================
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It's just a README file. This README file is released under the terms of the
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Creative Commons Zero license, version 1.0 of the license, which you can
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read here:
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<https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt>
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