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[blog post] what it's like to live with as much foss software as possible (spv.sh)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/linux@programming.dev
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[–] 13 points 1 year ago (5 children)

It's funny seeing blogs about this because I live with 100% FOSS, minus firmware

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    On your phone, too? Your router? Modem?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

    Router yes, actually router is running coreboot and tiano core with OpenWRT. Does still have proprietary microcode though, and WiFi firmware. All my WAPs also run OpenWRT. I don't have a modem, I have fiber. The ONT is probably running something proprietary but as far as I'm concerned that's ISP equipment, not mine. Phone...not quite. I tried...it is running an AOSP rom...but going to a full Linux phone never quite worked out. That being said I was originally referring to my laptop and desktop which make use of no proprietary software or drivers. I do go FOSS to the extreme as much as possible. I just haven't figured out the phone. I did try going f-droid only for a while but it made basic tasks on my phone substantially more difficult.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    The article wasn't about just running Linux: it was about trying to maximize use of OSS software in their personal compute. They write about using an OSS BIOS, OSS phone - everything that can conceivably and possibly be done.

    I don't recall if they talk about their modem, or switches; I think it's just their personal computing devices. Still, it's an interesting journey. I'm really nervous about replacing the BIOS; LibreBoot and CoreBoot look interesting, but I'm not in a place where I can afford to brick my computer.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Yeah I understand that. And as I noted with the exception of firmware which almost universally requires running very out of date hardware I do the same. I'd like to get there with my phone but I haven't managed it yet. I have written off firmware being FOSS because as mentioned. You almost always need very old hardware for that outside of embedded devices. And if you go down the firmware rabbit hole you probably have to draw the line somewhere. Platform firmware is the one everyone focuses on but what about GPU or NIC firmware? What about microcode or firmware embedded in the IME or PSP? Yes you can sometimes neuter the IME but that doesn't apply to all CPUs. It's just an unwinnable rabbit hole without going to a fully open computing platform.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Yes - agreed on a points.

    I think what the blogger of trying is to use OSS wherever it's possible. There are clearly parts which are not, but there are OSS BIOS alternatives to proprietary ones, OSS firmwares for some devices, OSS phones, OSS routers, and so on. By "maximizing" they just meant doing everything that was possible. Using an OSS-only operating system and software is the bare minimum and - as you said - is something many of us do: that's the easy part. Going the next step and replacing your phone, tablet, BIOS, and everywhere it's possible to use OSS is the "maximizing" part.

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