Re: [GNU-linux-libre] review PureOS ISO

[Zlatan Todoric]

Hi,


On 11/10/2016 09:34 AM, hellekin wrote:
> On 11/09/2016 01:43 AM, Zlatan Todoric wrote:
> > Hi all (again),
> >
> > we are restarting the process of getting PureOS as FSF endorsed OS. We
> > built new infrastructure and released alpha 2 image publicly so we want
> > to march together on this road with you and see the final release of
> > PureOS 3.0 as FSF endorsement of PureOS.
> Hi,
>
> I'm sorry but I can't read the whole thread, especially since the first
> reply attaches to sap the discussion.  Just a few remarks in passing.
>
> Other OSes asking for endorsement don't come with selling hardware.  IMO
> it would be a mistake to discredit PureOS because they have a hardware
> business attached.

Hardware should be a separated thread - for RYF hardware, which we of 
course didn't apply for because of obvious reasons.

> OTOH, it's Puri.sm's responsibility to solve the proprietary BIOS
> problem since they have the possibility to collaborate with Libreboot to
> do that: having chosen an incompatible chip was probably a strategic
> mistake.

No, that is our business decision which I can explain but has no point 
for this thread. You have Ministry of Freedom for libreboot devices and 
we choose that market is too small regarding libreboot laptops.

> > Bug tracker: https://tracker.puri.sm/maniphest/
> This should probably bring to an anonymous, read-only version of the
> site so that the public can see the issues and how they are handled.
> Participating in issue tracking is another task entirely and does indeed
> require authentication on the Web thanks to spammers.

Agree, I already did report this to our sysadmins few days ago so they 
will fix it.

> > Wiki (we could use interested parties here :) ): https://tracker.puri.sm/w/
> Same here.
>
> > We really want to do this properly and be welcomed into GNU family.
> As suggested, your best bet now that the whole discussion is ingrained
> with LibreM notebooks, is to find a replacement chip for the BIOS that's
> compatible with Libreboot.  I gather this is not at all possible, and
> you're still working on having the manufacturer free the chip you're
> using.  Good luck with that.  Maybe having your infrastructure on
> pureos.org or something might help with getting an endorsement while
> you're freeing your BIOS.  You have my full support in this endeavor,
> and actually I'd be curious to learn about it more thoroughly (what
> stage?  What difficulties?  How others can help?  What would be the cost
> of switching to a new, compatible chip, etc.)

Getting FSF endorsement as Free OS should have nothing to do with 
hardware - it is Operating System we apply for, not for the hardware. I 
hope there is clear distinct in this or we need to rewrite rules of 
applying. While I would love to have a chip that runs Libreboot, we 
would then need to move out of high-end device and become just another 
Ministry of Freedom. I love MoF, I just don't see the need for one more. 
(pureos.org) domain is taken and we tried to get it in past but person 
refused to sell (it was domain name of same named, now dormant distro). 
What is wrong with having our infra on tracker.puri.sm? It is entirely 
Free software based infrastructure, maintained by us for development of 
PureOS which is open to all. Hardware production is very high cost, that 
is why you have seen numerous Free software projects that came and 
quickly failed (to exception Arduino, I guess). Difficulty is Intel ME 
(which we explain on our website) and while we have under NDA access to 
their documentation it is still blackbox in many ways. I would love to 
say "hi people, thanks for all support, we have enough power now to 
produce high-end entirely libre devices" but reality is - we are small 
business, small team, working hard but face bad supply chain, supply 
chain not keeping their promises (and when you're small it affects you 
very hard), delays, people not understanding what we do etc. Still we 
are happy to see a lot of support and try our best - that is why, again, 
can we focus on OS and not hardware (I welcome you to participate on our 
IRC channel and infra and ask how to help regarding topic that interests 
you - always better to have more heads in problem that affects us all) 
or to reword what is needed to get Free OS certificate.

> Regards,
>
> ==
> hk

Cheers,

Z