Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a distribution that doesn't included any proprietary software and follow the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines

I saw on the GNU webpage a list of such distro, but there is only ten !

Do you know any other Distro that follow those guidelines ?


Also do you know where I could found computer that are also Libre !? (has non proprietary, free(dom) chips...)

Thanks

It's all very well in theory, but even your hardware has proprietary software within, including processors & drives, so you would need to produce your own - compromise is where we are, proprietary drivers that can be loaded to make use of your hardware, or do without it.

^ exactly.

That list looks slightly outdated, but I doubt there's much more. There was an explanation on that website somewhere why e.g. Debian is not in that list. Just to give you a feeling of the strictness.

A quick web search turned up this article: https://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/best-...ributions.html
Pretty much the same.
That said, what's wrong with those if they're still current?
Also try a distrowatch search.

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It is linked from that page: Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems.

I've always been uncomfortable with the more aggressive and puritanical wing of the free software movement. Surely for the private individual, the most important freedom of all is the freedom to run software on his or her machine. If it doesn't work because the hardware (for example the wifi card) needs a proprietary driver, and none is provided, what use are the other freedoms to that person? And if the only answer is for them to buy a different computer, then free software becomes simply a form of self-indulgence for the rich.

^ Stallman agressive? I don't know; he sets clear goals that are almost unachievable (or not feasible). Not very realistic, but it's not wrong to point these things out. I mean what's the point running a "free" and "better" OS when half the firmware on your machine phones home with your complete private life?

Constant Pushback, is what I want to say I guess, is important.

Zealots are another thing (and Stallman is).

It's problematic when it comes to the point that people believe Debian is not fighting the Good Fight just because it strives to run on more than ancient ThinkPads.

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IMO, the FSF criteria for "free" is too restrictive because it includes software/firmware that runs on embedded controllers. Those were never intended to be programmed by anyone other than the hardware manufacturer.

A more useful definition of "free" would apply only to software that runs on the CPU and GPU. Those were designed to be reprogrammed by anyone. Many distros meet this criteria.
Ed

Thank you all for your input !


You're right, and I don't find logic that the hardware (as it is for the software) as source code not open(for the reason see this little video of 13min )


Indeed I think I will give a shot with PureOS (but I will have to modify it already post on their forum )
Thanks for that custom search with distrowatch


Thank you Hazel, if you have 13 min I would recommend this video : Introduction to Free Software and the Liberation of Cyberspace and you will most certainly understand why even if the user is not a HW programmer the code should be open to the community.


Thank you @ondoho I couldn't agree more.
Just when you say "goals that are almost unachievable".. I guess what you really wanted to mean is goals that are almost unachievable in our current capitalist society.. ? Because for me those goal are achievable. But if we want them to exist (and I believe the majority of us want so) we have to change first not the IT field but our social / politic field ! and recognize that something is wrong with all those closed / proprietary items.



"Those were never intended to be programmed by anyone other than the hardware manufacturer."
Says who? The manufacturers ? come on...

You have to trust the hardware manufacturers, including any firmware that they supply for embedded controllers. Firmware can be considered to be part of the hardware.

A modern computer has exactly two end-user reprogrammable processors - the CPU and GPU. You are free to run any kind of software on those two.
Ed

What about the BIOS? Some people install libreboot or coreboot.

Unfortunately, most BIOSes are not free software. Proprietary GPU drivers are also not free software. I consider "free" to be applicable because those run on the CPU.
Ed

BIOS runs on the cpu? I'm pretty sure I've had motherboards that BIOS worked with no cpu plugged in...