Open Source Firmware Debate

Discussions focus on the necessity of fully open source firmware and hardware in devices, with criticisms of products shipping closed-source binary blobs despite openness claims.

📉 Falling 0.5x Hardware
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Keywords

RAM e.g II CPU FOSS ARM PC GPU OEM VIM2 open source open firmware source hardware closed source card closed kernel linux

Sample Comments

DrStartup Jul 8, 2024 View on HN

No open source firmware is definitely a no-go

rasz Dec 30, 2022 View on HN

Isnt that the one they promised to open source but are shipping binary blobs instead?

pilooch Nov 6, 2014 View on HN

yes, it'd need to be fully open hardware and open source software. What else ? :)

ur-whale Jan 30, 2020 View on HN

Hardware isn't Open-Source though.

isykt Jun 27, 2023 View on HN

Why should I trust open source hardware / firmware / software?

MaximilianEmel May 25, 2024 View on HN

They're talking about open-source firmware, I would guess.

RobotToaster Feb 8, 2023 View on HN

It seems disingenuous to call it open source when none of the hardware seems to be open source.

mixedCase Feb 3, 2017 View on HN

This open source hardware requires closed source blobs, so in the end there's not much point in it.

joelthelion Apr 23, 2013 View on HN

How open is the hardware? Are the drivers open source?

Novosell Jul 16, 2023 View on HN

No doubt sent from a device with fully open-source hardware stack, right?