Re: Firmware - what are we going to do about it?
Jeremy Stanley wrote:
>On 2022-04-19 01:27:46 +0100 (+0100), Steve McIntyre wrote:
>[...]
>> Along with adding non-free firmware onto media, when the installer
>> (or live image) runs, we should make it clear exactly which
>> firmware packages have been used/installed to support detected
>> hardware. We could link to docs about each, and maybe also to
>> projects working on Free re-implementations.
>[...]
>
>It's probably what you meant, but just to be clear, as a user I'd
>also want to know which of the firmware packages used/installed were
>pulled from non-free and what devices prompted their addition.
>Something like "The following packages do not meet Debian Free
>Software Guidelines but were installed because they're necessary in
>order to enable or secure some of your hardware: foo(CPUX21
>processor microcode), bar(PM2743 power management controller),
>baz(RF17G wireless interface), ..."
>
>This would allow me to make better informed decisions, such as:
>
>1. Disable some of these devices if I don't actually use them.
>
>2. Seek out alternative open peripherals which do work without
>proprietary firmware.
>
>3. Reach out to the manufacturer of my device and extol the virtues
>of open firmware.
>
>4. Consider (as you mentioned) working on my own reimplementation.
Nod, that's exactly what I was suggesting. More information for users
here helps them to make decisions like this, absolutely.
--
Steve McIntyre, Cambridge, UK. steve@einval.com
"We're the technical experts. We were hired so that management could
ignore our recommendations and tell us how to do our jobs." -- Mike Andrews
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