libreboot
{{Short description|Coreboot distribution that uses some proprietary firmware blobs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Libreboot
| logo = Libreboot logo.svg
| logo alt = Graphic of Canteloupe, Libreboot's mascot, which is a running deer in black and white.
| logo size = 120px
| screenshot = File:Libreboot on an x200 with docking station..jpg
| caption = ThinkPad X200 running Libreboot
| author = Leah Rowe
| developer = Leah Rowe
| released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2013|12|12}}
| latest release version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|single|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| latest preview version = {{Wikidata|properties|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q3295609}}
| latest preview date = {{Start date and age|{{Wikidata|qualifier|single|P348|P548=Q3295609|P577}}}}
| repo = {{URL|codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk}}
| programming language = C, Shell, Python
| platform =
| genre = Open-source firmware
| license = GNU General Public License, version 3
| website = {{URL|https://libreboot.org/}}
}}
Libreboot (briefly known as GNU Libreboot{{Cite web|date=22 May 2016|title=List of GNU software packages on 22 May 2016|url=https://www.gnu.org/software/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522044936/https://www.gnu.org/software/|archive-date=22 May 2016|access-date=22 August 2016|website=GNU project}}{{Cite web|title=[Libreboot] GNU Libreboot, version 20160818 released|url=https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreboot/2016-08/msg00040.html|access-date=2021-08-22|website=lists.gnu.org|archive-date=18 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018041811/https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreboot/2016-08/msg00040.html|url-status=live}}) is a free and open-source software project based on coreboot, aimed at replacing some of the proprietary BIOS or UEFI firmware on supported x86-64 and AArch64 computers. Libreboot performs the basic machine setup such as CPU initialization or memory controller initialization necessary to load and run a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system, such as Linux or FreeBSD.
Characteristics
Libreboot is established as a distribution of coreboot, but with some{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Binary Blob Reduction Policy |url=https://libreboot.org/news/policy.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101164256/https://libreboot.org/news/policy.html |archive-date=1 November 2023 }} proprietary binary blobs removed from coreboot.{{Cite web|last=Bärwaldt|first=Erik|title=Liberated » Linux Magazine|url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2018/210/Free-Firmware-with-Libreboot|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Linux Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822203232/https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2018/210/Free-Firmware-with-Libreboot}} Libreboot makes coreboot easy to use by automating the build and installation processes.{{Cite web|first=Bryan|last=Cockfield|date=2016-12-16|title=Harrowing Story Of Installing Libreboot On ThinkPad|url=https://hackaday.com/2016/12/16/installing-libreboot/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Hackaday|language=en-US|archive-date=7 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907074125/https://hackaday.com/2016/12/16/installing-libreboot/}}{{Cite web|last=Nardi|first=Tom|date=2018-08-20|title=Installing LibreBoot The (Very) Lazy Way|url=https://hackaday.com/2018/08/20/installing-libreboot-the-very-lazy-way/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Hackaday|language=en-US|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124042859/https://hackaday.com/2018/08/20/installing-libreboot-the-very-lazy-way/}}
On some devices, Libreboot developers have reverse engineered the firmware from Intel and created a utility to create a free firmware that meets the specifications from Intel.{{Cite web|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|title=Taurinus X200: Now the most 'Free Software' laptop on the planet|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-new-free-software-laptop-arrives/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-06|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=26 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826133134/https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-new-free-software-laptop-arrives/}} Hardware support includes but is not limited to the ASUS KGPE-D16,{{Cite web |title=Minifree Ltd.'s GNU+Linux Computers |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/minifree-ltds-gnulinux-computers |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Linux Journal}} ThinkPad T400,{{Cite web |last=Biggs |first=John |date=2017-08-11 |title=The Minifree Libreboot T400 is free as in freedom |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/11/the-minifree-libreboot-t400-is-free-as-in-freedom/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Benchoff |first=Brian |date=2016-10-28 |title=Apple Sucks Now, Here’s A ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide |url=https://hackaday.com/2016/10/28/apple-sucks-now-heres-a-thinkpad-buyers-guide/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Hackaday |language=en-US}} X60 and X200.{{Cite web |title=Flash ROMs with a Raspberry Pi |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/flash-roms-raspberry-pi |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Linux Journal}} Libreboot is officially endorsed by the upstream coreboot project.{{Cite web |title=coreboot for end users |url=https://coreboot.org/users.html |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=coreboot.org}}
History
The Libreboot project was started in December 2013 as a distribution of coreboot, which excludes non-free binary blobs. Coreboot began as LinuxBIOS in 1999 at Los Alamos National Labs (LANL), and was renamed "coreboot" in 2008.{{Citation |last1=Sun |first1=Jiming |title=Building coreboot with Intel FSP |date=2015 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-0070-4_4 |work=Embedded Firmware Solutions: Development Best Practices for the Internet of Things |pages=55–95 |access-date=2023-05-27 |place=Berkeley, CA |publisher=Apress |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4842-0070-4_4 |isbn=978-1-4842-0070-4 |last2=Jones |first2=Marc |last3=Reinauer |first3=Stefan |last4=Zimmer |first4=Vincent |doi-access=free |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506204215/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4842-0070-4_4 |archive-date=6 May 2024 }}
Libreboot has been endorsed by the Free Software Foundation, and was an official part of the GNU Project since May 2016. In January 2017, the project's maintainer Leah Rowe pulled Libreboot from the GNU Project, after a months-long dispute with the Free Software Foundation which oversees GNU.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Christine |date=2017-01-06 |title=GNU Officially Boots Libreboot |url=https://fossforce.com/2017/01/gnu-officially-boots-libreboot/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=FOSS Force |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506202851/https://fossforce.com/2017/01/gnu-officially-boots-libreboot/ |archive-date=6 May 2024 }}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Christine |date=2016-09-16 |title=Libreboot Leaves GNU Claiming Gender Identity Discrimination by FSF |url=https://fossforce.com/2016/09/libreboot-leaves-gnu-claiming-gender-identity-discrimination-fsf/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=FOSS Force |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506202329/https://fossforce.com/2016/09/libreboot-leaves-gnu-claiming-gender-identity-discrimination-fsf/ |archive-date=6 May 2024 }}
Reception
In 2015, Kyle Rankin stated in Linux Journal that Libreboot "greatly simplified and automated" the flashing process, "with a few caveats".{{Cite web |last=Rankin |first=Kyle |date=September 28, 2015 |title=Libreboot on an X60, Part I: the Setup |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/libreboot-x60-part-i-setup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822203226/https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/libreboot-x60-part-i-setup |archive-date=22 August 2021 |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=Linux Journal}}{{Cite web |last=Rankin |first=Kyle |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Libreboot on an x60, Part II: the Installation |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/libreboot-x60-part-ii-installation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822203221/https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/libreboot-x60-part-ii-installation |archive-date=22 August 2021 |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=Linux Journal}} In 2016, Bryan Cockfield stated in Hackaday that Libreboot installation was "harrowing" and "not as easy as you'd think".
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References
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External links
- {{Official website|https://libreboot.org/}}
{{Firmware and booting}}