My question to you guys is this. How do we reconcile the design of software freedom promoted by both the Linux and Gnu developer communities with the reality of hardware based applications, which have no requirement to satisfy their demands?
In other words we have this stuff called software, it's a big pile of different packages, and in the end they all fit together like puzzle pieces into our so called operating system, but sitting quietly in the shadow of all of our daily computing activities is another parallel system of hardware, which has it's own software applications, that we can't access, examine, alter, or even extract to share with others. These software applications, which exist under the umbrella term, of firmware, clearly do not meet the standard of freedom, as set out by the FSF/Gnu.
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html
I really like thinking about these issues, and I think it's challenging, while it merely confronts our preconceived notions of what is socially acceptable to speak, and to think about. In other words, it's not difficult to comprehend, granted a different basis, for confronting the issue, that respects each others intelligence, and basic needs.
We have lots and lots of free software on Debian, and in the greater free software world. We can open things up, look at every line of code, change everything to suit our idealism, wrap it all back up, and build a new application in moments. We can take everything apart, and develop a comprehensive understanding of how every program works, in the free Gnu+Linux operating system.
But that unique power afforded us by free software, software that explicitly supports the freedom of it's users, comes to a dead halt, when we move past the virtual operating system, and begin to examine the hardware, which possess' it's own secret capabilities, it's own secret applications, that we can not open up, and examine freely, that we can not develop a comprehensive understanding of, like we can with the software packages, that make up the Debian operating system.
I've thought about this issue a lot, and read a lot about what other people say in these regards on the internet, and I could say a lot more about it, but I want to know, what the members of DebFO think specifically. I might as well be naive compared to members of DebFO, if I've only just begun to think about these issues, whereas they must have for a life time.
In other words we have this stuff called software, it's a big pile of different packages, and in the end they all fit together like puzzle pieces into our so called operating system, but sitting quietly in the shadow of all of our daily computing activities is another parallel system of hardware, which has it's own software applications, that we can't access, examine, alter, or even extract to share with others. These software applications, which exist under the umbrella term, of firmware, clearly do not meet the standard of freedom, as set out by the FSF/Gnu.
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html
It's not merely the case that only the FSF is actively working to promote the freedom/security (interdependent) of it's users, such as those of us on Debian. But the Linux developer community, among others, are actively working, every day, to promote the freedom and security of their users as well, based on shared values and understanding.The four essential freedoms
A program is free software if the program's users have the four essential freedoms: [1]
The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others (freedom 2).
The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
I really like thinking about these issues, and I think it's challenging, while it merely confronts our preconceived notions of what is socially acceptable to speak, and to think about. In other words, it's not difficult to comprehend, granted a different basis, for confronting the issue, that respects each others intelligence, and basic needs.
We have lots and lots of free software on Debian, and in the greater free software world. We can open things up, look at every line of code, change everything to suit our idealism, wrap it all back up, and build a new application in moments. We can take everything apart, and develop a comprehensive understanding of how every program works, in the free Gnu+Linux operating system.
But that unique power afforded us by free software, software that explicitly supports the freedom of it's users, comes to a dead halt, when we move past the virtual operating system, and begin to examine the hardware, which possess' it's own secret capabilities, it's own secret applications, that we can not open up, and examine freely, that we can not develop a comprehensive understanding of, like we can with the software packages, that make up the Debian operating system.
I've thought about this issue a lot, and read a lot about what other people say in these regards on the internet, and I could say a lot more about it, but I want to know, what the members of DebFO think specifically. I might as well be naive compared to members of DebFO, if I've only just begun to think about these issues, whereas they must have for a life time.
Statistics: Posted by gamingondebian — 2025-01-06 02:15 — Replies 4 — Views 116