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2024-03-27 07:40 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from 6ebab10caa5be6fc1cfd244e745851687d4bd70d to 332778973c3bca867dd2aa608b89a017a2e44b77 |
2024-03-27 01:53 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from 667e3d7649ef1d42333591efb6b7064638638f7e to 6ebab10caa5be6fc1cfd244e745851687d4bd70d |
2024-03-27 01:34 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from 6b11f1b055466982747f65665506173a0b22557b to 667e3d7649ef1d42333591efb6b7064638638f7e |
2024-03-19 00:13 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from c578fe56c36f94af5c51a1be27a1a1c4b57a4289 to 6b11f1b055466982747f65665506173a0b22557b |
2024-03-12 21:18 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from 665840b2b9b296fe50fe4fa78b4ffda072c1033b to c578fe56c36f94af5c51a1be27a1a1c4b57a4289 |
2024-03-02 23:49 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from db074b785ccbca67bf3de54ac4414fb72f1cdf8f to 665840b2b9b296fe50fe4fa78b4ffda072c1033b |
2024-02-27 18:53 | libreboot | Reference refs/heads/master updated from d4d259938776094550d470d10955ae9b24c7f98f to db074b785ccbca67bf3de54ac4414fb72f1cdf8f |
Find libreboot documentation at <https://libreboot.org/>
The libreboot
project provides libre boot
firmware that initializes the hardware (e.g. memory controller,
CPU, peripherals) on specific Intel/AMD x86 and ARM targets, which then
starts a bootloader for your operating system. Linux/BSD are
well-supported. It replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware. Help is
available via #libreboot
IRC on Libera IRC.
Libreboot gives you freedoms that you otherwise can't get with most other boot firmware. It's extremely powerful and configurable for many use cases.
You have rights. The right to privacy, freedom of thought, freedom of speech and the right to read. In this context, Libreboot gives you these rights. Your freedom matters. Right to repair matters. Many people use proprietary (non-libre) boot firmware, even if they use a libre OS. Proprietary firmware often contains backdoors (more info on the FAQ), and it and can be buggy. The libreboot project was founded in December 2013, with the express purpose of making coreboot firmware accessible for non-technical users.
The libreboot
project uses coreboot for hardware
initialisation. Coreboot is notoriously difficult to install for
most non-technical users; it handles only basic initialization and jumps
to a separate payload program (e.g.
GRUB, Tianocore), which must also be
configured. The libreboot software solves this problem; it is a
coreboot distribution with an automated build system (named
lbmk) that builds complete ROM images, for more robust
installation. Documentation is provided.
In the same way that Debian is a GNU+Linux distribution,
libreboot
is a coreboot distribution. If you want
to build a ROM image from scratch, you otherwise have to perform
expert-level configuration of coreboot, GRUB and whatever other software
you need, to prepare the ROM image. With libreboot, you can
literally download from Git or a source archive, and run
make
, and it will build entire ROM images. An automated
build system, named lbmk
(Libreboot MaKe), builds these ROM
images automatically, without any user input or intervention required.
Configuration has already been performed in advance.
If you were to build regular coreboot, without using libreboot's automated build system, it would require a lot more intervention and decent technical knowledge to produce a working configuration.
Regular binary releases of libreboot
provide these ROM
images pre-compiled, and you can simply install them, with no special
knowledge or skill except the ability to follow installation
instructions and run commands BSD/Linux.
Libreboot attempts to bridge this divide by providing a build system automating much of the coreboot image creation and customization. Secondly, the project produces documentation aimed at non-technical users. Thirdly, the project attempts to provide excellent user support via IRC.
Libreboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashprog and other needed parts. Everything is fully integrated, in a way where most of the complicated steps that are otherwise required, are instead done for the user in advance.
You can download ROM images for your libreboot system and install them without having to build anything from source. If, however, you are interested in building your own image, the build system makes it relatively easy to do so.
Libreboot is not a fork of coreboot. Every so often, the project re-bases on the latest version of coreboot, with the number of custom patches in use minimized. Tested, stable (static) releases are then provided in Libreboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
You can check bugs listed on the bug tracker.
If you spot a bug and have a fix, the website has instructions for how to send patches, and you can also report it. Also, this entire website is written in Markdown and hosted in a separate repository where you can send patches.
Any and all development discussion and user support are all done on the IRC channel. More information is on <https://libreboot.org/contact.html>.
It's just a README file. This README file is released under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero license, version 1.0 of the license, which you can read here:
<https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt>