2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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---
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title: Libreboot project
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x-toc-enable: true
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2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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...
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2022-11-14 02:31:12 +00:00
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The `libreboot` project provides
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2021-09-01 05:56:49 +00:00
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[freedom-respecting](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.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 computers](docs/hardware/) and starts
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a bootloader for your operating system. [GNU+Linux](docs/gnulinux/)
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and [BSD](docs/bsd/) are well-supported. It replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI
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firmware. Help is available
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via [\#libreboot](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot)
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on [Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC.
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Why should you use *libreboot*?
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----------------------------
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2021-09-06 06:38:28 +00:00
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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. [Free
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software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) 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](https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary.html)
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boot firmware, even if they use [GNU+Linux](https://www.gnu.org/distros/).
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Non-free firmware often [contains](faq.html#intel) [backdoors](faq.html#amd),
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and can be buggy. The libreboot project was founded in in December 2013, with the
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express purpose of making Free Software accessible for non-technical users at
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the firmware level. It's true that `libreboot` can be called Open Source, [but you
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should call it Free
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Software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.en.html).
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The `libreboot` project uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for [hardware
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initialization](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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2021-09-01 10:07:13 +00:00
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an [automated build system](docs/build/) that builds complete *ROM images*, for
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2021-09-06 02:04:42 +00:00
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more robust installation. Documentation is provided.
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How does libreboot differ from regular 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
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follow [simplified instructions, written for non-technical
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users](docs/install/).
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2021-09-05 13:54:33 +00:00
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How to help
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-----------
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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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If you spot a bug and have a fix, [here are instructions for how to send
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patches](git.md), 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/osbwww) 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](contact.md).
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