at the risk of feeding a troll... see below On 8 Jan 2017 at 0:02, Martin Hanson wrote:
> ludovic coues said: > > > You are free to use OpenBSD code. > > You are free to copy OpenBSD code. > > You are free to modify OpenBSD code. > > You are free to distribute you fork. > > > > So unless your dictionary is twisted, shipping non-free firmware isn't > > an exception to these freedom. > > You're wrong. That's not what it says on the OpenBSD website. Please > read on. > > Stefan Sperling said: > > > I agree with Theo. Don't buy hardware you don't like. > > Avoiding the hardware isn't the issue! > > The issue is MISGUIDANCE by OpenBSD! > > On the frontpage of openbsd.org it says "free" with big bold letters: > > "The OpenBSD project produces a FREE, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based > UNIX-like operating system." > > And there is a link to the explanation of the "free" term used by > OpenBSD: > > https://www.openbsd.org/policy.html > > The explanation is not as given by "ludovic coues" in the above. > > On policy page it clearly says: "OpenBSD strives to provide code that > can be freely used, copied, modified, and distributed by anyone and for > any purpose." > > This is MISGUIDING! > > OpenBSD ALSO provides software that cannot freely be modified in any way > and it DOES THIS WITHOUT EVEN ASKING THE USER! No, it does not. Stop confusing SOFTWARE (general purpose code running on the main processor of the computer) with FIRMWARE (specilized instructions embedded in hardware and required to make that hardware operate in a prescribed manner). As has been pointed out numerous times, OpenBSD does not make a distinction between firmware that is pre- installed in hardware components of your computer and firmware that is loaded onto similar hardware component each time the computer starts. > Stop avoiding the issue by pointing to problems with "crappy" hardware > and vendors. This is not the issue. > > The issue is a misguiding policy statement.
