45 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
45 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
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% Canoeboot project launched (new Libreboot fork)
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% Leah Rowe
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% 26 October 2023
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I've started a new sister project of Libreboot, that I will maintain in
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parallel; whenever there is a new Libreboot release, I will then use it to
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create a new release of *Canoeboot*.
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You can find Canoeboot here: <https://canoeboot.org/>
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The first release, Canoeboot 20231026, is here (created on 26 October 2023):
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<https://canoeboot.org/news/canoeboot20231026.html> - it is based on the
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recent [Libreboot 20231021 release](libreboot20231021.md).
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Canoeboot is a *proof of concept* that provides a technical implementation of
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Libreboot, but *without* the [Binary Blob Reduction Policy](policy.md); instead,
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Canoeboot implements the [GNU Free System Distribution
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Guidelines (GNU FSDG)](policy.md#problems-with-fsdg) as policy. GNU FSDG is the
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policy that Libreboot *previously* implemented, until 16 November 2022 when the
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new *Binary Blob Reduction Policy* was enacted.
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The *reduction* policy has resulted in more hardware being supported from
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coreboot, thus bringing free software to more people, and it is handled in the
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manner described by Libreboot's [Freedom Status](../freedom-status.md) page.
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The purpose of Canoeboot is to demonstrate the inferior state Libreboot would
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be in today, if it still adhered to the *old* GNU policy. The goal of Libreboot
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is to help as many people as possible achieve a level of [software
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freedom](https://writefreesoftware.org/learn), so that they may rid themselves
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of proprietary software. This is done, because every user deserves to have the
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freedom to study, adapt, share and use software infinitely, without restrictions.
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By implementing the policies that it has, Libreboot is in a position to do this
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in the most optimal way, whereas Canoeboot can only support a limited subset of
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hardware compared to Libreboot; in other words, Canoeboot's policies are a
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liability to the adoption of free software by normal people everywhere.
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Canoeboot is still a good option if your hardware supports it, but you should
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know: Libreboot *also* provides the very same blob-free, entirely free software
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config on all of the mainboards that Canoeboot supports. Canoeboot is a proof
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of concept, but you *can* use it, if you wish.
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[Patches are also welcome](https://canoeboot.org/git.html) in Canoeboot, if you
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spot something wrong that ought to be fixed or improved.
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