README.md: Vastly simplify it
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README.md
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Libreboot
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=========
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Find libreboot documentation at <https://libreboot.org/>
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* Documentation: [libreboot.org](https://libreboot.org)
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* Support: [\#libreboot](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot) on
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[Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC
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The `libreboot` project provides
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[libre](https://libreboot.org/freedom-status.html) *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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Libreboot provides
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[libre](https://libreboot.org/freedom-status.html)
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boot firmware on
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[supported motherboards](https://libreboot.org/docs/install/#which-systems-are-supported-by-libreboot). It replaces proprietary vendor BIOS/UEFI implementations, by
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* Using coreboot to initialize the hardware (e.g. memory controller, CPU, etc.) while
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minimizing unwanted functionality (e.g. backdoors such as the Intel Management Engine)
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* ... which runs a payload such as SeaBIOS, GRUB, or U-Boot
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* ... which loads your operating system's boot loader (BSD and Linux-based
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[systems](systems) are supported).
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Why use Libreboot?
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==================
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Why use Libreboot, and what is coreboot?
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----------------------------------------
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Why should you use *libreboot*?
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----------------------------
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A lot of users who use libre operating systems still use proprietary boot
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firmware, which often contain backdoors and bugs, hampering
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[user freedom](https://writefreesoftware.org) and
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[right to repair](https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=Npd_xDuNi9k).
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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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[coreboot](https://coreboot.org) provides libre boot firmware by initializing
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the hardware then running a payload. However, coreboot is notoriously difficult
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to configure and install for most non-technical users, requiring detailed
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technical knowledge of hardware.
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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 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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Libreboot solves this by being **a coreboot distribution** (in the same way
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that Alpine Linux is a Linux distribution). It provides a fully automated build
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system that downloads and compiles pre-configured ROM images for supported
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motherboards, so end-users could easily fetch images to flash onto their
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devices.
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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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[SeaBIOS](https://www.seabios.org/SeaBIOS),
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[GRUB](https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/),
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[U-Boot](https://docs.u-boot.org/en/latest/)), 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 also produces documentation aimed at non-technical users and
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excellent user support via IRC.
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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 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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- *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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point in time.
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- *Make coreboot easy to use*. Coreboot is notoriously difficult
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to install, due to an overall lack of user-focused documentation
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and support. Most people will simply give up before attempting to
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install coreboot. Libreboot's automated build system and user-friendly
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installation instructions solves this problem.
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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 IRC.
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Libreboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashprog 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 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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Not a coreboot fork!
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--------------------
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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 Libreboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
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How to help
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===========
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Contribute
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----------
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You can check bugs listed on
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the [bug tracker](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues).
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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://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbwww) where you can send patches.
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You may use Codeberg pull requests to send patches with bug fixes or other
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improvements. This repository hosts the code for the main build system.
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The website lives in [a separate repository](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbwww).
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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 <https://libreboot.org/contact.html>.
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Development is also done on the IRC channel.
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LICENSE FOR THIS README
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=======================
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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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It's just a README file. It is released under
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[Creative Commons Zero, version 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt).
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<https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt>
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