update README
Leah Rowe
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89517ed6b9
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@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
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/grub/
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/memtest86plus/
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/seabios/
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/mrc/
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/bin/
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/release/
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/descriptors/
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@ -1,32 +1,26 @@
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Information about osboot can be found at <https://osboot.org/>
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This is the *libre* version of osboot, so it only has support for hardware that
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can boot without any binary blobs in the ROM image.
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This branch of osboot is basically pointless. It was created to then be forked
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and adapted for a new Libreboot release.
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Free your BIOS today! GNU GPL style
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===================================
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osboot is
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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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osboot 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. osboot is
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compatible with [specific computer models that use the Intel/AMD x86
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architecture](docs/hardware/). osboot works well with GNU+Linux and BSD
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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 [\#osboot](https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=osboot) on Freenode
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at [\#libreboot](https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=libreboot) on Freenode
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IRC.
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osboot is a *Free Software* project, but can be considered Open Source.
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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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osboot uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for hardware initialization.
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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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@ -37,19 +31,19 @@ GNU GRUB), UEFI implementation (such as Tianocore) or BIOS implementation
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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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osboot solves this problem in a novel way:
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osboot is a *coreboot distribution* much like Debian is a *GNU+Linux
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distribution*. osboot provides an *automated build system* that downloads,
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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 osboot, and who runs the project, can be
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found on the [who.md](who.md) page.
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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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Why use osboot?
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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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@ -68,20 +62,21 @@ 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*. osboot
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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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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 bugs. Development and support
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can be abandoned at any time. By contrast, osboot is a free software project,
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where anyone can contribute or inspect its code.
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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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osboot is faster, more secure and more reliable than most non-free
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firmware. osboot provides many advanced features, like encrypted
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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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osboot gives *you* control over *your* computing.
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Libreboot gives *you* control over *your* computing.
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Project goals
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-------------
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@ -94,9 +89,9 @@ Project goals
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such as the Video BIOS or Intel's *Management Engine*. However, a
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lot of dedicated and talented individuals in coreboot work hard to
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replace these blobs whenever possible.
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- *Support as much hardware as possible!* osboot supports less
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- *Support as much hardware as possible!* Libreboot supports less
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hardware than coreboot, because most systems from coreboot still
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require certain proprietary software to work properly. osboot is
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require certain proprietary software to work properly. Libreboot is
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an attempt to support as much hardware as possible, without any
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proprietary software.
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- *Make coreboot easy to use*. Coreboot is notoriously difficult
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@ -104,18 +99,18 @@ Project goals
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and support. Most people will simply give up before attempting to
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install coreboot.
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osboot attempts to bridge this divide by providing a build system
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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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osboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashrom and other
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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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the complicated steps that are otherwise required, are instead done
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for the user in advance.
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You can download ROM images for your osboot system and install
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You can download ROM images for your libreboot system and install
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them without having to build anything from source. If, however, you are
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interested in building your own image, the build system makes it relatively
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easy to do so.
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@ -123,34 +118,44 @@ easy to do so.
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Not a coreboot fork!
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--------------------
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osboot is not a fork of coreboot. Every so often, the project
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Libreboot is not a fork of coreboot. Every so often, the project
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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 osboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
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in Libreboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
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Coreboot is not entirely free software. It has binary blobs in it for some
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platforms. What osboot does is download several revisions of coreboot, for
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platforms. What Libreboot does is download several revisions of coreboot, for
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different boards, and *de-blob* those coreboot revisions. This is done using
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the *linux-libre* deblob scripts, to find binary blobs in coreboot.
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All new coreboot development should be done in coreboot (upstream), not
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osboot! osboot is about deblobbing and packaging coreboot in a
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libreboot! Libreboot is about deblobbing and packaging coreboot in a
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user-friendly way, where most work is already done for the user.
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For example, if you wanted to add a new board to osboot, you should
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add it to coreboot first. osboot will automatically receive your code
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For example, if you wanted to add a new board to libreboot, you should
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add it to coreboot first. Libreboot will automatically receive your code
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at a later date, when it updates itself.
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The deblobbed coreboot tree used in osboot is referred to as
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*coreboot-libre*, to distinguish it as a component of *osboot*.
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The deblobbed coreboot tree used in libreboot is referred to as
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*coreboot-libre*, to distinguish it as a component of *libreboot*.
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A coreboot *fork* is planned for the future. Nowadays, coreboot drops support
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for boards that are "unmaintained", which in some cases just means that nobody
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submitted a new status update (to the *board-status* repository), so nowadays
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osboot must maintain multiple versions of coreboot. This is unsustainable,
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Libreboot must maintain multiple versions of coreboot. This is unsustainable,
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so a fork is planned, re-adding all of the deleted boards, backporting newer
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coreboot features and, possibly, having support for those boards re-merged
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upstream, where coreboot and the fork will share code back and forth. As of
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27 April 2021, work on this fork has not yet begun.
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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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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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Info about Free Software Foundation:
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<https://www.fsf.org/>
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@ -1 +1 @@
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osboot-libre
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libreboot
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