2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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title: Libreboot project
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...
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Libreboot is
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[freedom-respecting](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)
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2021-08-30 07:14:05 +00:00
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*boot firmware* that initializes the hardware (e.g. memory controller, CPU,
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peripherals) in your computer and starts a bootloader for your operating
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system. It replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware. Libreboot works
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on [specific Intel/AMD x86 platforms](docs/hardware/), with decent
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[GNU+Linux](docs/gnulinux/) and [BSD](docs/bsd/) support. Help is available
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via [\#libreboot](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot) on
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[Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC. *The latest release is Libreboot
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20210522, from 22 May 2021.*
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Libreboot is a [Free software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)
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project, but can be considered Open Source.
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[GNU teaches
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us](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.en.html)
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why you should call it *free software* or *libre software*. Free software
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matters. [Right to Repair](https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=Npd_xDuNi9k) matters.
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Libreboot uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for
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[hardware initialization](https://doc.coreboot.org/getting_started/architecture.html).
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However, *coreboot* is notoriously difficult to configure by non-technical
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users. There are many complicated steps, and coreboot only handles basic
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hardware initialization before jumping to a
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separate [payload](https://doc.coreboot.org/payloads.html) program, which
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could be anything (e.g.
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[Linux](https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/),
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[GRUB](https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/),
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[SeaBIOS](https://www.seabios.org/SeaBIOS),
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[Tianocore](https://www.tianocore.org/)).
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Libreboot solves this problem. It is a *coreboot distribution*,
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just like [Parabola](https://www.parabola.nu/) is a *GNU+Linux distribution*.
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Libreboot has an [automated build system](docs/build/) that downloads,
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patches and builds software like coreboot, GRUB and SeaBIOS to build a
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complete *ROM image* for firmware installation, just like a GNU+Linux
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distribution provides an ISO image for OS installation. Libreboot regularly
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re-bases on the latest versions of coreboot and other upstream projects.
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Libreboot has advanced features like
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[encrypted /boot/](docs/gnulinux/encrypted_debian.md) and [GPG support](docs/gnulinux/grub_hardening.html).
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Binary blobs from coreboot are excluded, making Libreboot *100% free
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software*. It is [endorsed by the Free Software
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Foundation](https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/replace-your-proprietary-bios-with-libreboot). Libreboot
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has [helped](https://www.gnu.org/education/how-i-fought-to-graduate-without-using-non-free-software.html)
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many people, [including the FSF, the GNU
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project](https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2017/fall/six-months-of-equipment-upgrades-at-the-fsf)
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and [GNU project founder, Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html).
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