libre bootloaders

This continues from this previously unpublished note.

I’m not entirely comfortable with this disambiguation yet, but the following exist:

Libreboot
GNUboot
Canoeboot

They all make use of Coreboot. Coreboot is what came of LinuxBoot, which aimed to put the Linux kernel directly into computer firmware. Though I’m not sure if LinuxBoot was the name of that original. This is just a vague recollection. It makes me sad that it was relegated to being a bootloader. I still think it would be cool if the firmware were home to the kernel that the system was running.

What’s a libre?

Libre as in free, free of proprietary code or mysterious binary blobs. Free as in freedom to own and do with as one pleases.

Seems political

Libreboot used to be purely libre, but changed in 2022 to allow non-libre. Likely to be able to support newer hardware.

GNUboot was born to continue being a libre libreboot with no blobs.

Canoeboot was born of Libreboot in response to GNUboot existing to do the same as GNUboot.

Libreboot and Canoeboot are both managed by the same person: Leah Rowe.

GNUboot is a GNU project.

Conclusion

I don’t know what value any of these projects adds as I haven’t read enough of their content yet. Of what I have read, the documentation is super confusing to me and so far I have found it easier to just read and use the coreboot docs and utilities. I’m hoping to play around with all of them (and heads too,) throughout the remainder of the year.

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