Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
2018-05-02T09:36:56+0200 ludek.stas...@gmail.com wrote: > of fun. Yes, I absolutely agree to use a relatively small non-free > driver with the fact that when I do not need it, I will remove it is > the ideal solution. I like how we are called in the Czech Republic "a One must notice however that this "need" is sometimes weaker than what some speakers say, for example, I don't "need" to install non-free software in my own computer order to have my college assignment reviewed for plagiarism, I can instead go to the college, LAN houses (a shop in Brazil where one can get computers through rents paid per hour of usage), and from these places, use that non-free functional data there (also considering that I might have to install it there). It's very different from Karen Sandler's scenario where she had to minimize the risk of the non-free software somehow in her implantable cardiac defibrillator because in that case she does "need" that thing otherwise she probably wouldn't be among us free/libre activists. All in all, I need to make an addendum here: while making use of these non-free functional data seems to solve the immediate problem that you have, it doesn't change the fact that we must do something to improve the freedom of the software[1] in our computing. The above adition also applies to JavaScript forced upon you through websites[2]. Sometimes it's a matter of contacting the website owner explaining how bad client-side autoexecuted scripts are for accessibility, security (thanks to the discovery of Meltdown and Spectre, see[3]) and privacy (for all these points, see [4][5][6]), within that contact, also mention that there are ways to keep using JavaScript, but that requires freeing it, and then mention the Free JavaScript campaign[2] and the related development task force[7], which by the way is also looking for skilled JS developers. Other times, one must change service provider, to one which doesn't require usage of a website like that. [1] I used the term "freedom of the software" but the other one, "software freedom" is more common. In short they both mean what is expressed in the alternative I used, because we talk about *the software* which should make *its freedoms* available to the end-user. However, I once saw some people confusing "software freedom" with "the freedom to choose which software to use", and this is a communication noise in our circles, particularly seen in some "free software" (sic) events in Brazil. [2] https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/freejs . [3] These two are literally impossible to fix, the only way to do so would be to have 99% of the world's computers trashed. [4] https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/the-surreptitious-assault-on-privacy-security-and-freedom/ . [5] https://mikegerwitz.com/2018/01/Meltdown-Spectre-and-the-Web . [6] https://mikegerwitz.com/2017/06/Don-t-force-me-to-use-your-tools-on-the-Web . [7] https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/js-devs-task-force .
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
Many thanks loldier to your answer, the word fanatics I thought rather of fun. Yes, I absolutely agree to use a relatively small non-free driver with the fact that when I do not need it, I will remove it is the ideal solution. I like how we are called in the Czech Republic "a golden middle way" and this is how I try to behave in my normal life. Very interesting opinion, which I have not met yet, also has ADFENO, libre software should not forbid me from installing non-free functional data. Yes, I absolutelly agree, this is true libre way very close to my preffered "golden middle way", I can choose fully libre system and if it is not possible, do this little non-free modification. If libre kernel developers can add this funkcionality, I will be very happy and I believe not only me, but I am understand, that this will be very difficult, if I examine kernel sources, my head is spinning. So the best way for me for this time is to use TP-Link wifi dongle, kernel compilation in my machine is not the ideal way. This is not a problem for me, just like I need to use an external mouse I can use the dongle, Toughbook has 3 USB ports, so this is not a problem. I will be watching the situation around libre kernel and if I can help after gaining more programming experience, I will do it. Thank you once again for clarification, I finally begin to understand the libre distros philosophy better.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
2018-04-27T12:09:45+0200 ludek.stas...@gmail.com wrote: > Yes, it is true, that it should not be a problem to install non-free > firmware with libre kernel. Except Ubuntu/Trisquel I use many other One must note that, compared to common distros, free/libre ones don't *facilitate* installing non-free functional data (which also includes software but has other items besides this). However, at a personal level, you can of course go all the way dirty and install the things even in a free/libre distro. However, don't go around telling others to do the same, nor help them do that. This implies that the *community* around the free/libre distro also don't stimulate installing non-free functional data. What a free/libre software mustn't do is forbid you from installing non-free functional data. This behavior is considered a bug. As for the kernels that are built using the GNU Linux-libre scripts, these kernels currently have this bug, and the project knows about it, and are trying to fix it --- but it turns out to be more complex due to the way Linux kernel itself works ([1]). Please be very aware of this kind of misinformation that people are spreading in the circles not related to free/libre distros, and help by correcting them by citing [1]. Sometimes people might not even "spread" that information, but instead keep that for themselves, which is also bad because they can turn that card up any time. Finally, as was told, the workaround for this bug in the kernels that are built using GNU Linux-libre scripts is to get the corresponding source files and modify the sources explicitly of the GNU Linux-libre scripts. How you will do that might depend on the non-free functional data that you will use, and this I cannot teach. [1] http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnu-linux-libre/2018-01/msg00032.html . -- - Formas de contato: https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno#vCard - Ativista do /software/ livre (não confundir com gratuito). Avaliador da liberdade de /software/ e de /sites/. - Arquivos que aceito: https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno#Arquivos - Contribuições à sociedade: https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno#Contributions - Gosta do meu trabalho? Contrate-me ou doe algo para mim! https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno#Suporte - Use comunicações sociais federadas padronizadas, onde o "social" permanece independente do fornecedor. #DeleteWhatsApp. Use #XMPP (https://libreplanet.org/wiki/XMPP.pt), #DeleteFacebook #DeleteInstagram #DeleteTwitter #DeleteYouTube. Use #ActivityPub via #Mastodon (https://joinmastodon.org/). - #DeleteNetflix #CancelNetflix. Evite #DRM: https://www.defectivebydesign.org/
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
I'm not a fanatic and I try to look at everything with insight and use common sense... How come a freedom-loving user is a 'fanatic' if he/she refuses to install non-free software? I understood you already had a working free wifi dongle to use with your toughbook. If otherwise, this person would be a hypocrite. It'd be like going to Anonymous Alcoholics, and after a session go to the nearest bar round the corner and get drunk. I understand a fanatic would refuse to ever touch non-free dongl even if there were no other alternatives. Using non-free is not going to kill anybody but reverting to it after having a solution at hand is something else.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
Yes, it is true, that it should not be a problem to install non-free firmware with libre kernel. Except Ubuntu/Trisquel I use many other distributions and for example in libre Slackware variant there is relatively simple way to modify Slackbuild file and install libre kernel with necessary iwlwifi files. There is nice site about recompiling their kernel: https://freenix.net/fxp/freeslack64-14.2/source/fxp/build/linux-libre/ But of course I know, that this operation will lost Libre distribution freedom. It is the question, whether use my external TP Link dongle or more comfortable only Toughbook with this small kernel modification, but with necessarily by hand recompile the new kernel version. I'm not a fanatic and I try to look at everything with insight and use common sense, so the best way is to test both variants - the first works perfectly, the second is waiting for trying. Of course the best way is create true opensource iwlwifi driver, in the past I was working as system administrator and now I am interested in programming. I love text adventure games, so my first programming language was TADS3, but because I'm very interested in linux, the next step will be learn C/C++, so I will be able to fully explore this system and after gaining more experience maybe prepare this piece of software, it will be a great gift to the community.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
The Libre Kernel is a Kernel that is clean of blobs or possible non-free firwares also in the repositories. So if in any case you need install any firware you are alone to do it manually with or without any help of people on foruns and without technical help (documentation) of the distros that uses Libre Kernel . However if you really needs make up a firware detection on your system you can try install the firmware manually by a source , put some speciall attention on the versions of kernels that the firware is compatible and works, You can install firmwares on Libre Kernels also as in Kernel non-free, but the Libre Kernel maybe needs more configs to some firwares work for example - dependencies more aditional configs on files etc... . Remember - when you do it - you lost your freedom or you are in the way to get it.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
It looks to stand for asking for the deblobbed iwlwifi drivers and that's not yet done.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
Many thanks to all your answers and explanation, what deblobbing true means. It is sad, that most of the wifi cards do not working with libre kernel, but for now I understand the reason. I will use small USB wifi dongle from TP Link, it works well with Trisquel without any issue. Maybe in the future the situation will change and manufacturers will be more willing to deliver their drivers to the community. Nice coming weekend Ludek
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
Yes definitely good news to me (it true), which my wifi card needs the nonfree iwlwifi driver up to 4.15.n kernels, will that be asap ported to Parabola thanks?
Re: [Trisquel-users] Deblobbed iwlwifi in 4.10+ libre kernels
Deblobbing something means removing the freedom offending driver or firmware and not suggesting it in documentation or otherwise endorsing it. There’s a difference between how Trisquel and Debian handle this. Debian gives instructions on how to enable non-free software while Trisquel recommends free alternatives. In this instance, there’s no free driver for this hardware, so with Trisquel your options are as MBanana wrote above. Get a USB dongle for your wifi that will work with free software. Maybe you are confusing deblobbing with reverse-engineering.
