D&C GLug - Home Page

[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]

Re: [LUG] Single-board computers and software freedom

 

On Fri, May 24, 2013 at 10:04 AM, Gordon Henderson
<gordon+lug@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> BIOSes can be re-flashed. As can microcontrollers. Even the boot-code for
> the Pi - that's "fixed" on the SD card, but loaded into the GPU - where do
> you draw the line?

All of those things can be reflashed, so if the software you're
loading on them isn't free software, you have given some of your
autonomy to a third-party.

You can buy hardware that runs a BIOS or bootloader that you can
control with free software. Some microcontrollers too.

For the Pi, I'd hope people are working to reverse engineer the
proprietary firmware and replace it with free software.

Nobody is saying that people who don't have 100% freedom are bad or
stupid -- I know sometimes that is presumed to be the case. The
reality is, all RMS and the FSF are really saying is: "Proprietary
software takes away your rights to independently control your
computing. Here are some products are guilty of this."

-- 
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq