125 lines
6.0 KiB
Markdown
125 lines
6.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Libreboot project
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x-toc-enable: true
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...
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The *Libreboot* project provides
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[libre](freedom-status.md) *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](docs/hardware/), which
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then starts a bootloader for your operating system. [Linux](docs/linux/)
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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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<img tabindex=1 class="r" src="https://av.libreboot.org/hp9470m/9470m+2560p.jpg" /><span class="f"><img src="https://av.libreboot.org/hp9470m/9470m+2560p.jpg" /></span>
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**NEW RELEASE: The latest release is Libreboot 20230423, released on
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23 April 2023.
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See: [Libreboot 20230423 release announcement](news/libreboot20230423.md).**
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Why should you use *Libreboot*?
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----------------------------
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Libreboot gives you [freedoms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source) that
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you otherwise can't get with most other boot firmware, plus faster boot speeds
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and [better security](docs/linux/grub_hardening.md). It's extremely powerful
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and [configurable](docs/maintain/) for many use cases.
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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://yewtu.be/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](faq.html#intel) [backdoors](faq.html#amd),
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and can be buggy. The Libreboot project was founded in December 2013, with the
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express purpose of making coreboot firmware accessible for non-technical users.
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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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[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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*Libreboot solves this problem*; it is a *coreboot distribution* with
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an [automated build system](docs/build/) that builds complete *ROM images*, for
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more robust installation. Documentation is provided.
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Libreboot is not a fork of coreboot
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-----------------------------------
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<img tabindex=1 class="l" style="max-width:25%;" src="https://av.libreboot.org/thinkpadcollection/thinkpadcollection1-min.jpg" /><span class="f"><img src="https://av.libreboot.org/thinkpadcollection/thinkpadcollection1-min.jpg" /></span>
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In fact, Libreboot tries to stay as close to *stock* coreboot as possible,
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for each board, but with many different types of configuration provided
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automatically by the Libreboot build system.
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In the same way that *Alpine Linux* 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
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follow [simplified instructions, written for non-technical
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users](docs/install/).
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How to help
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-----------
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<img tabindex=1 class="l" style="max-width:15%;" src="https://av.libreboot.org/hp8200sff/grub_open.jpg" /><span class="f"><img src="https://av.libreboot.org/hp8200sff/grub_open.jpg" /></span>
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The *single* biggest way you can help is to *add* new mainboards in Libreboot,
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by submitting a config. Anything coreboot supports can be integrated in
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Libreboot, with ROM images provided in releases. See:
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* [Apply to become a board maintainer/tester](docs/maintain/testing.md)
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* [Porting guide for new mainboards](docs/maintain/porting.md)
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* [Libreboot build system documentation](docs/maintain/)
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After that, there is build system maintenance (see above), and *documentation*
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which we take seriously. Documentation is critical, in any project.
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*User support* is also critical. Stick around on IRC, and if you're competent
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to help someone with their issue (or wily enough to learn with them), that is
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a great service to the project. A lot of people also ask for user support
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on the `r/libreboot` subreddit.
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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, [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://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbwww) 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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Translations needed, for libreboot.org
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--------------------------------------
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Libreboot currently has translated Web pages in Ukrainian and French (but not
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for all pages, yet, on either language).
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If you want to help with translations, you can translate pages, update existing
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translations and submit your translated versions. For instructions, please
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read:
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[How to submit translations for libreboot.org](news/translations.md)
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Even if someone is already working on translations in a given language, we can
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always use multiple people. The more the merrier!
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