Re: [GNU-linux-libre] PureOS added to endorsed distro list - what about the kernel?

[Henry Jensen]

Hallo,

congratulations for adding a great distro to the list.

However, it seems that PureOS is not using the linux-libre kernel but a
kernel based on Debian's Linux kernel.

When I tried to get ConnochaetOS [0] on this list the last time, people
explained to me, that ConnochaetOS can't be endorsed because it doesn't
use linux-libre and the Debian based kernel requests non-free firmware
files and does write the names of those files to the system log. See the
thread at
https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnu-linux-libre/2017-08/msg00013.html

Now, I installed PureOS and it seems, PureOS does use the same Debian
based deblob mechanism as does ConnochaetOS.

To verify it, I tried the PureOS ISO from
https://downloads.puri.sm/snapshots/2017-11-11/pureos-8.0-live-amd64.hybrid.iso
and booted it on a notebook with a wifi chip which does need non-free
firmware. And indeed I see in dmesg the following message (among others):

iwlwifi: 0000:03:00.0 firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-6000g2a-6.ucode (-2)

So, of course I want to know how PureOS can use this Debian based
kernel and be endorsed while ConnochaetOS can't?


Regards,

Henry




[0] https://connochaetos.org/


On Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:54:29 -0500
Donald Robertson <address@hidden> wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> We just wanted to give the list a heads up on our forthcoming
> announcement of adding PureOS to our list of endorsed distros. Quite
> some time ago they wrote to this list and got feedback about their
> distro. From that time, they've been working with us to address concerns
> that were brought up in that thread, such as removing leftover
> problematic code from Firefox, fixing up their bug tracker, and making
> clearer the separation between Purism and PureOS. They've addressed our
> concerns, and are actively maintaining freedom-related issues in their
> bug tracker
> <https://tracker.pureos.net/tag/freedom-harm_need_nonfree_code/>. The
> endorsement program depends on the community to help projects to
> maintain their free status, and we are satisfied with PureOS's
> commitment to maintaining that status. After this announcement, we'll be
> moving our focus to working with other pending candidates for
> endorsement, but maintaining a free distro is a task that needs
> everyone's help. If there are issues that you can help PureOS with,
> please do make use of the bug tracker, and make sure to CC
> <address@hidden> so you can be rewarded with a GNU Buck
> <https://www.gnu.org/help/gnu-bucks.en.html> if you do find a problem.
> Thank you all for your help in bringing PureOS up to speed, and we look
> forward to your continued help on future distros seeking endorsement.
> -- 
> Donald R. Robertson, III, J.D.
> Licensing & Compliance Manager
> Free Software Foundation
> 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor
> Boston, MA 02110
> Phone +1-617-542-5942
> Fax +1-617-542-2652 ex. 56
>