this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Honestly, I am grateful that the FSF is a bit more strict in this definition. While I do not care too much about this, I think it is good that we have some ideal to follow and look forward. And its good, because anyone who wants to go that route, have a community and direction.
Idealism is fine.
Braindead self-denial less so.
How is proprietary firmware that cannot be updated superior?
The line the FSF draws between what is hardware and what is software is total nonsense
The FSF should stick to software so they can maintain the completely hard line that you value. That can apply to actual software.
There should maybe be a Free Hardware Foundation too (maybe a sister or sub-project). If that existed though, they would have to reject pretty much all the hardware that all of us use, including the hardware that the operating systems in this list were designed to run on. Because they are all completely proprietary regardless of their firmware update policies.
I would love a FHF. Let’s all use open schematic, RISC-V systems with open source firmware. Yes please!
But let’s stop doing dumb shit like refusing to update the microcode on our Intel CPU and pretending that is more free instead of just more dumb.
The way why the FSF approaches firmware today is totally braindead (in my view).
Disagree. Their priorities are backwards.
Company A releases a product, it runs closed-source proprietary firmware on-board, and it can't be updated by the user even if bugs or compatibility issues are found later on in the product's life cycle.
Company B releases a product, it runs closed-source proprietary firmware on-board, but it can be updated by the user if bugs or compatibility issues are found later on in the product's life cycle.
According to the FSF, product A gets the stamp of approval, product B doesn't. That makes no sense.
I have seen enough devices get kneecapped by the manufacturer after release to know that the FSF's viewpoint is the correct one.