Quim Gil wrote: > > Igor Stoppa wrote: >> On Fri, 2008-04-18 at 13:52 +0300, ext Quim Gil wrote: >>> What is really the problem: the binaries or the license to distribute >>> them? Or both?
Both. Licence to redistribute parts of the firmware (binary executables with closed source) is the first blocker. I guess we currently cannot unpack firmware image, rebuild some open pieces, put it back and release such firmware image freely, can we? Would be very useful if we were allowed to do it. Without this users need to flash clean Nokia firmware and then do relatively complex patching on their own to install some community version. Second blocker are the binaries itself. We are talking about (in the order of importance as I see it) - umac.ko binary kernel driver this one is dependent on kernel version and even specific kernel configuration, see https://garage.maemo.org/pipermail/cx3110x-devel/2007-December/000006.html Basically we are stuck with old kernel forever if we want to use wi-fi hardware. - pieces in initfs redistribution rights would help but sadly they seem to depend on kernel version too. This it true at least for dsme. Last time I tried, dsme from OS2006 image crashed with 2.6.18 kernel and rebooted device early on boot. The first OS2007 hacker edition tried newer kernel and had some dsme build that worked with 2.6.18 but this image is no longer available (I asked few times to put it back with no result) -pieces in rootfs This only applies for system based on OS200x/Maemo i.e. some sort of Hacker Edition. For details see the table Package License Modification Patches in http://maemo.org/community/wiki/Os2007On770/ and watch for modifications with Licence column 'Closed' or go over http://maemo.org/community/wiki/os2007hackereditionarchives It is clear community cannot maintain Maemo based system for 770 without internal knowledge. As already said this does not apply to other distributions (Poky, Debian, Mamona) but we are still stuck with ancient kernel, one example - Android now needs 2.6.23 so no luck with 770 :-) >>> >>> Do these binaries impede the community getting what they want? What do >>> they want, by the way? Move freely to newer linux kernels and have all closed hardware still working, Wi-fi is pretty important for Internet Tablet :-) > Do you mean that the community can't do a thing unless this > functionality is covered by open source packages instead of binaries? many things can be still done but the motivation is low, it is not much fun to invest time in system which is stuck in the past forever > > What would happen if the community could reuse these binaries in images > build and redistributed by themselves? IMO this is really worth of solving. Go for it if you can. > > Also, is it feasible to think in open source alternatives developed by > the community? Yes eventually, if people feel they are not stuck with closed hardware with no future. > Pointing the real stones in the way would help > concentrating the attention on what matters. Basically I think there are two issues 1. allowing redistribution of binaries from firmware (i.e. making firmware customizations) 2. making possible to move to newer linux kernels by either opening sources of wi-fi driver and stuff in initfs or finding someone with enough rights and knowledge to maintain it for us as needed BTW This issue was already discussed many times, some pointers with additional details (we can discuss them again if needed): http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/maemo/developers/21031?#21031 http://lwn.net/Articles/229838/ and discussion below article starting here http://lwn.net/Articles/230162/ Frantisek _______________________________________________ maemo-users mailing list maemo-users@maemo.org https://lists.maemo.org/mailman/listinfo/maemo-users
